It has showed up in the media that I used my CH801 to support the recent Hurricane Florence Airlift. Also and unfortunately now showing up on the internet is an erroneous report from the GSO FSDO to the effect that I hit a power line with my 801. The FSDO created this report based on a 4th hand hearsay informal report. It was entered into the database before even taking any steps to confirm the information.  In fact the power line was struck one hour before I arrived by a Helio Super Courier. All of this has been confirmed by photos, a video of the strike, FAA ATC tapes support it, and testimony by witnesses on the ground attest to it.  I have a letter from the FSDO to the effect that I am not longer being investigated. But it is not over yet...

But for reasons that I cannot fathom the FSDO allowed the erroneous & unconfirmed first report to be released to the public. I just became aware that it is circulating on the internet this weekend.  And the FAA has yet to correct the erroneous first report in their database - if ever they will. Once on the internet, information - right or wrong- never goes away. I am asking the Zenith community to please help me out by not forwarding such false reports if it comes into your possession and if possible informing those who sent it of the error.  Neither I nor our community need the adverse "press" arising from false information. 

When the bungee on my first 801 failed causing a locked rudder and resulting accident, despite failure analysis and NTSB reports supporting a defective part the FAA found me "guilty" of pilot error and imposed demeaning and expensive sanctions. That on top of the losses on the aircraft and increased insurance.  I would hate to be hanged twice in a row, once in private by the FAA and once in public by the public, while innocent of wrongdoing. Zenith pilots fly a very capable and attention grabbing aircraft with unique capabilities. This enables us to do the things that we do simply because it is a very capable aircraft, not because we are risk takers or daredevils of some sort. So please help me keep adverse "press" from spreading. None of us need the bad publicity. I apologize in advance if my service to  those in need and this irresponsible action by the FSDO results in any bad reflection upon the Zenith pilot community.