Incident Overview
A student pilot was returning to his home airport when the accident occurred. On final approach, the pilot noticed another helicopter at the parking area and altered his course towards taxiway Alpha. He completed his approach, coming to a hover about 3 to 5 feet above the ground, then commenced a hover-taxi to his parking spot.
Maneuver and Jet Encounter
To reach his intended parking spot, the pilot stated he would have to pass behind an Embraer jet that was holding short of the runway. The pilot reported that he was not expecting the jet blast produced by the turbine engines. As the helicopter passed behind the airplane, it yawed to the left and rolled onto its side, impacting the ground.
Witness Observations
According to witnesses, the accident helicopter passed 10 meters (33 feet) behind the jet at an altitude of about 3 feet above the ground.