Helicopter Main Rotor Blades Damaged After Cargo Sack Lifted by Wind

Incident Details

A pilot landed a helicopter at an off-airport site in windy conditions. After touchdown, the pilot began performing the engine cool-down portion of the checklist. Simultaneously, a worker at the site picked up a storage container that had been weighing down an empty cargo sack. The removal of the weight allowed the wind to lift the empty sack, which then came into contact with the helicopter's main rotor system.

Damage

The contact resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades. No other damage or injuries were reported in the source.

Sequence of Events

The incident occurred when the weight holding down the cargo sack was removed. The sack, now unsecured, was caught by the wind and blown into the rotating main rotor blades. The helicopter was on the ground with its engine running during the cool-down procedure.