Accident Summary
A helicopter accident occurred when the pilot was conducting a hover-taxi in downwind conditions. The pilot reported that after landing to purchase fuel, he again hover-taxied downwind to his requested runway. During the hover, the pilot was unable to arrest the helicopter's descent, forward travel, or a loss of rotor rpm despite adjusting throttle, collective, and cyclic controls. The helicopter continued over a drainage "lagoon" and struck the opposite bank, causing it to nose over.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that the winds were exacerbated either by gusts or a "wind tunnel" effect from two rows of hangars. The wind was reported as 18 knots gusting to 26 knots. He noted that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter.
Environmental Conditions
The helicopter was operating in downwind conditions with gusts up to 26 knots. The pilot indicated that the wind effects were amplified by nearby hangars, creating challenging hover conditions.
Reference to Settling with Power
According to the FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, conditions conducive to settling with power include downwind approaches at low forward airspeed. The handbook's description aligns with the circumstances described by the pilot.