Accident Summary
A flight instructor and his student were conducting a training flight. They landed at an airport to refuel before continuing the lesson. After refueling, the instructor restarted the helicopter and hovered to position for takeoff. He initiated a climb to the southwest with an indicated airspeed of 45 knots. The wind was reported as "17 gusting 24" knots.
Sequence of Events
According to the instructor, upon reaching an altitude of 50 to 70 feet above ground level (AGL), the aircraft ceased climbing and began to be pushed aft and down. The instructor attempted to regain control but was unsuccessful. The helicopter struck the ground in a level attitude. The front of the left skid caught in soft, uneven ground, causing the helicopter to roll to the left. As it rolled, the main rotor blade struck the tail cone, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side.
Pilot Statements
The instructor reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the helicopter prior to the accident. No other contributing factors were mentioned.