FLC REPOSITIONING S76 MISJUDGE IMPACT OF GUSTING WINDS AND CONTACT TAIL ROTOR WITH FENCING. DEBRIS CAUSES OTHER ACFT DAMAGE.

Narrative

PARKED ON A SPOT OF THE W 30TH STREET HELIPORT; IN IMC. WE WERE ASKED IF WE WOULD LIKE TO REPOS TO A SPOT CLOSER TO A PAX PICK-UP POINT. I AGREED TO DO SO. WE ELECTED TO AIR TAXI INSTEAD OF GND TAXI. THE WIND WAS ON OUR NOSE QUADRANT. WE WERE FACING W TOWARD THE HUDSON RIVER; THE WIND AS 300-310 DEGS AT 20 KTS; GUSTING TO 30 KTS. DURING THE REPOS; WE BOTH FELT A BUFFETING OF THE HELI; FOLLOWED BY A COMMAND FROM THE HELIPORT UNICOM ABOUT A SECOND LATER TO 'MOVE UP.' WE LANDED AND UPON INSPECTION; FOUND THAT THE TAIL ROTOR HAD IMPACTED THE TOP BAR OF A CHAIN LINK FENCE AT THE PERIMETER OF THE HELIPORT LNDG AREA. THIS OCCURRED AT NIGHT; WITH GUSTING WINDS; IN A CONFINED AREA THAT WAS KNOWN TO BOTH PLTS. BOTH PLTS WERE FULLY QUALIFIED; HIGHLY EXPERIENCED; AND HAD ELECTED TO AIR TAXI VICE GND TAXI TO THE NEW SPOT. I BELIEVE THAT THE SUN; FROM FORWARD TO SIDE; AT NIGHT; COMBINED WITH A GUSTING WIND; CONTRIBUTED TO A BACKWARD DRIFT OF THE ACFT THAT NEITHER PLT PERCEIVED UNTIL RADIOED BY THE HELIPORT OPERATOR. UPON REFLECTION; WE WOULD NOT AIR TAXI TO THE SPOT AT NIGHT GIVEN THE OPTION TO GND TAXI. I WOULD ALSO CONDUCT A MORE THOROUGH BRIEF BTWN PLTS CONSIDERING CLRNCS OF/IN CONFINED AREAS; DUTIES OF SUCH TO SCAN FRONT AND SIDE FOR EVIDENCE OF DRIFT; AND DISCUSSION OF WIND FACTORS CAUSING POTENTIAL MOMENTARY INSTABILITY -- IF SUCH WINDS ARE PRESENT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER ACFT OR PERSON; NO INJURIES INVOLVED. THE HELI HAD 4 TAIL ROTOR BLADES REPLACED; A MAIN ROTOR TIP CAP REPLACED; DAMAGED BY FLYING DEBRIS; AND 2 AREAS OF THE HELI SLIGHTLY PUNCTURED BY FLYING DEBRIS.