Accident Details
A helicopter sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain during landing on runway 31 at Rochester International Airport (RST). The pilot reported conducting a straight-in approach. He recalled that the approach was smooth until the helicopter crossed the runway threshold at approximately 10 feet above ground level, at which point he felt a very slight buffeting. The pilot attributed this sensation to wake turbulence from a business jet that had departed about two minutes before his arrival.
Pilot Actions
In response to the buffeting, the pilot decided to abort the landing and applied forward cyclic to increase airspeed. Within two seconds, the helicopter began to pitch and roll severely. The pilot's efforts to stabilize the aircraft were unsuccessful. Concerned that he might not maintain control, he decided to land despite the unstable condition. He lowered the collective and, just prior to ground contact, increased collective in an attempt to cushion the impact. The left skid contacted the ground and collapsed, causing the helicopter to come to rest on its left side.
Examination and Conditions
A post-accident examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found no indication of any pre-impact anomalies. The pilot reported that there were no failures or malfunctions with the helicopter before the accident. Recorded winds at RST at 0754 were from 260 degrees at 5 knots, and at 0854 were from 240 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported a total flight time of 28.3 hours, with 3.0 hours of pilot-in-command (solo) flight time.