What happened
On May 25, 2017, a Eurocopter EC130, registration N153GC, was undergoing refueling at Peach Springs, Arizona. The refueling process was being conducted with the engine running. During the operation, a ground crewman opened the front passenger door on the side opposite the pilot. After the door was unlatched, the crewman released his hold on the door, causing it to be blown open by the wind.
The door subsequently separated from its strut and struck the main rotor. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor blades. There were no injuries resulting from the incident.
The investigation
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions present in the helicopter prior to the accident that would have prevented normal operation. The weather conditions at the time were Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds from 190 degrees at 17 knots.