What happened
The incident occurred when a helicopter sustained damage after rolling over while attempting to land near a trailer. The pilot had been conducting a survey of a property and initially landed next to a trailer that was being used to transport the aircraft.
After stopping, the pilot lifted off again and hovered directly over the trailer. During this maneuver, one of the helicopter's skids hooked onto the fender of the trailer. This contact caused the helicopter to roll over, resulting in damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the helicopter and the circumstances surrounding the rollover. Examination revealed that the primary cause of the damage was the physical interaction between the skid and the trailer fender during the hover phase.
Findings
Contributing factors included the proximity of the hover to a stationary object with protruding parts (the fender) and the limited clearance available in the area. The pilot's decision to hover directly over the trailer without ensuring adequate lateral clearance led to the skid catching the fender.