Incident Overview
A helicopter pilot reported that the flight began with a departure directly into the wind, followed by a climb and a turn to the downwind leg. During the turn, the helicopter encountered a wind gust and lost altitude in a manner the pilot described as similar to settling. Attempting to return to the airport property for landing, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter, but the landing skids caught a fence. The helicopter then nosed over and came to rest on its left side, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not specify any other factors contributing to the event.
Weather Conditions
A weather station located at the airport reported wind from 180° at 25 knots, with gusts reaching 36 knots. No additional weather information was provided.
Damage
The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The extent of damage to other components was not detailed.