Incident Overview
During the takeoff sequence, a helicopter was pushed by a gust of wind into a water tower located near the refueling pad. The helicopter had previously been used for drying trees in an orchard, and the pilot had landed in a parking lot to refuel.
Sequence of Events
While taking off from the parking lot, the main rotor blades struck the tank of the water tower, causing the helicopter to fall to the ground. The aircraft impacted in a flat attitude before rolling onto its side.
Contributing Conditions
Rain accumulation on the windshield had reduced the pilot's visibility from inside the helicopter. The pilot was unable to attain any visual cues regarding wind velocity or direction while inside the aircraft. Additionally, high obstructions surrounded the takeoff area and were located within 15 feet of the rotor diameter.