Incident Overview
A helicopter pilot reported that after landing in an empty parking spot, he realized the helicopter was oriented with a tailwind. He decided to reposition the helicopter. Shortly after liftoff, he felt a strong gust from the left, and the helicopter's right skid impacted the ground, leading to a dynamic rollover.
Damage
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailcone, and horizontal stabilizer.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather Conditions
The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 150° at 12 knots, gusting up to 19 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was variable and gusting. At the time of the accident, the helicopter was oriented to the northwest.