Incident Overview
A helicopter experienced a loss of control while air-taxiing away from a runway. According to the pilot's NTSB Form 6120.1, as the helicopter passed near a hangar, an unexpected gust of wind affected its handling. The private pilot was unable to maintain control before the helicopter's tail rotor contacted the ground.
Sequence of Events
The helicopter was executing a ground taxi when the wind gust occurred. The pilot's loss of control led to the tail rotor striking the surface. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard but remained upright. Neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained any injuries.
Post-Incident Examination
Federal Aviation Administration inspectors conducted an on-scene examination of the helicopter. Their inspection did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies or mechanical malfunctions. The pilot also reported no known mechanical failures in the submitted form.
Findings
No pre-existing defects or system failures were identified that could have contributed to the loss of control. The event was attributed to the unexpected wind gust during the taxi maneuver.