At least in this story, the media gives the YouTube commentors a lot of good credit for discouraging dangerous drone flight...
https://www.local10.com/news/florida/hollywood/faa-investigating-near-drone-helicopter-collision-off-hollywood

Idiots like that one will spur the FAA to tighten the current restrictions and make it also impossible to fly. I hope they find the guy and prosecute him to the fullest extent possible. If I were that helo pilot, I'd be crapping my pants. It looks like a law enforcement helo, because I think it has a FLIR camera mounted on the belly.

This is the same incident reported last week. Pilot was flying in restricted airspace, so if the FAA catches up with him, he's going to have some explaining to do. People like this are going to ruin it for the rest of us.

Paul_IA Posted at 2018-8-21 15:30
This is the same incident reported last week. Pilot was flying in restricted airspace, so if the FAA catches up with him, he's going to have some explaining to do. People like this are going to ruin it for the rest of us.

I did not know that flying out over the Atlantic Ocean was restricted airspace.  I agree that he should not have been near the copter.

Tviscomi Posted at 2018-8-21 15:51
I did not know that flying out over the Atlantic Ocean was restricted airspace.  I agree that he should not have been near the copter.

There's a YouTube video where they show his position. He was within the 5 mile radius of an airport (San Diego I think).

Lol the guy was not flying illegaly. I checked the map and he was outside the 5 mile radius. It was in Hollywood FL, not San Diego lol.

I had posted this image I made showing that it is possible that he was flying at about 400'. May be a  bit more.

Paul_IA Posted at 2018-8-21 17:16
There's a YouTube video where they show his position. He was within the 5 mile radius of an airport (San Diego I think).

Nah...he was in Hollywood Florida, not California

Asainz320 Posted at 2018-8-21 18:51
Lol the guy was not flying illegaly. I checked the map and he was outside the 5 mile radius. It was in Hollywood FL, not San Diego lol.

He maybe too high.  Also doubtful VLOS there.

In either case he's 100% responsible for maintaining separation and avoiding collisions.  Which he clearly failed to do.

I doubt the helicopter crew (news helicopter apparently) even saw it.

gnirtS Posted at 2018-8-22 02:47
He maybe too high.  Also doubtful VLOS there.

In either case he's 100% responsible for maintaining separation and avoiding collisions.  Which he clearly failed to do.

Totally agree!