Helicopter
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 2684; Flight Crew Type 1777
Distraction; Workload
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Police / Security Involved
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Several hours after sunset; I was operating a helicopter on an NVG currency training flight.  On initial approach to my destination airport at approximately 5.2 NM east of the airport; I observed an UAS operating at my altitude and within 100 feet of my aircraft.  The UAS had LED red and blue lighting which was invisible under NVG and was only noticed when it passed into my peripheral vision.  I took immediate evasive action by turning away and climbing in altitude.  I attempted to locate the operator of the UAS and had local police patrol unit respond to the area to assist but we were unable to locate the operator.  After my initial evasive action; the operator dropped the UAS toward the ground and extinguished its lighting system.  After about 5 minutes; the UAS was once again observed at my altitude and with its lighting system on.  The operator was still unable to be located and contacted.  The incident was documented in a Police incident report and the control tower was contacted the following day.
A helicopter pilot on a night vision training flight detected a UAS within 75 feet of his aircraft. The UAS operator turn its lights off but as the helicopter was searching the UAS returned for a second brazen encounter.