What happened
On the day of the incident, a series of joy riding flights were being conducted under challenging weather conditions. While strong northwesterly winds had initially delayed operations, the weather eventually moderated, allowing for the completion of six successful flights. Due to ongoing resurfacing work at the operator's primary landing pad, the pilot was utilizing an alternative, small paddock measuring approximately 70 square meters for departures and arrivals.
This temporary landing site was bordered by 80-foot trees to the west, buildings and horses to the north, and power lines to the east and south. During the final departure of the day, the helicopter was accelerating and had reached a height of approximately 20 knots above the tree line when the aircraft encountered a powerful northerly gust. This sudden wind shift caused the helicopter to roll to the left and descend rapidly downwind. The pilot was unable to recover the aircraft's attitude, leading to a collision with a high fence and a subsequent heavy landing. The two passengers sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
TAIC investigators examined the environmental conditions and the specific layout of the temporary landing site. The investigation established that the pilot was operating from a constrained area due to the unavailability of the main pad. The inquiry focused on the impact of the sudden wind gust on the aircraft's stability during the critical climb phase of the departure.