Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 7300; Flight Crew Type 4500
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Weather
I had taken a passenger (also a pilot) on a pleasure flight to take pictures of his home on Padre Island; TX. For this flight the airplane's right front seat was out; with the passenger sitting in the right rear seat. After takeoff; I contacted Corpus Christie Approach/Departure because I was concerned about a TFR over and to the east of Padre Island. Approach assured me that when they were talking with me that I would not have to worry about the TFR. Upon flying southbound to Padre Island it became evident that it was too cloudy below for photos. I told Approach that I would circle their Class C airspace on top; and return to my departure airport. I also thought of landing at an airport called Ingleside for fuel. Ingleside turned out to be covered with clouds. As I circled the entire Class C airspace at an altitude between 3;000 and 4;000 FT; my passenger asked me for the GPS 496; which was on a beanbag mount. The GPS 496 had a fresh obstacle database. He saw that I had another GPS to navigate by; so I handed him the unit. This was a contributing factor to the incident. As I turned north; continuing the path around the Class C; the clouds became fewer so I gradually descended at that point. Approach exchanged very few words with me; probably because I was out of their airspace; but they contacted me to change frequencies. At some point around the Class C; heading northeast; I descended around clouds with the intent to find the ground. During the descent I saw a propeller blade of a wind driven generator out my left window. My passenger saw another blade out his right window. Thus; I came too close to a propeller driven power unit; the type that now ranges across the land. I added power and climbed; but of course by then was beyond the windmills. I asked my friend if he saw the obstacles on the GPS unit. He said he did and got the warning; but he never mentioned it. The obstacle alarm remained on the screen as I glanced at it. Neither did Corpus Christie approach/departure mention anything about the power generators in my flight path. If the GPS 496 unit was on top of the instrument panel where I could see it; I would have had the obstacle warning plainly in view. After that I continued back to my destination for landing; which was in the clear.
A pilot flying a friend for picture taking descended near Padre Island; Texas and passed between two windmills which the reporter's friend failed to notify the pilot about after seeing them on the GPS.