Accident Overview
A helicopter sustained substantial damage when its main rotor contacted an open hangar door during takeoff, followed by impact with the ground. The incident occurred on a ramp where the helicopter had been parked approximately 35 feet from a hangar. The hangar's bi-fold door was open, extending about 10 feet out over the ramp.
Pilot Statement
According to the pilot, after takeoff and as the aircraft began moving away from the hangar, the passenger in the left front seat "accidentally and inadvertently hit or bumped the counterweight portion of the cyclic." The pilot reported that the helicopter then drifted toward the open hangar door. Before he could correct the drift, the main rotor clipped the bottom edge of the door. He recalled: "I quickly maneuvered away from the hangar building and began to level the aircraft." The helicopter descended to the ramp, and the subsequent hard landing caused the skids to collapse and the main rotor to sever the tail boom.
Witness Evidence
A ground witness submitted a video recording of the accident flight. Review of the recording revealed that after the helicopter lifted off, it paused in a hover for a few seconds and then began to climb out, subsequently contacting the door. No drift toward the hangar building was observed prior to rotor blade contact with the door.