Incident
A rotor mesh occurred between two company helicopters at a company heliport. N444CR, having completed a tour flight, was cleared by the company control tower to hover taxi past N38903, which was holding with rotors at maximum RPM and flat pitch. The pilot of N444CR stated that when he was abeam of N38903, a gust of wind caught him, causing the main rotors to mesh.
Weather and Heliport Conditions
No unusual weather phenomena was reported by the closest official weather station or by other tour pilots at the heliport. The heliport operated five helipads, each with less than the FAA recommended minimum safe dimensions between neighboring pads. The taxi route for N444CR was between a chain link fence and the pad where N38903 was holding.
Measurements
Measurements showed that N444CR had a 7-foot clearance between its main rotor and both the fence and N38903.