AN HU369D TAIL ROTOR MADE GND CONTACT WHEN THE ACFT WAS TIPPED BY A WIND GUST WHILE THE PLT WAS OUT OF THE ACFT REMOVING A WATER BUCKET.

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WHILE FIGHTING A FIRE ON ABC; MESSAGE RELAYED OF POSSIBLE BRUSH FIRE ON CDE. SET DOWN AND STOWED BUCKET FOR RETURN. REFUELED. DURING WAIT FOR FUEL; CALLED FOR BRUSH FIRE ON DEF. TOOK OFF; SCOUTED THE FIRE AND A SUITABLE LNDG PLACE TO CONNECT THE BAMBI BUCKET. I LANDED ON A GRASS FLAT NEAR THE RESERVOIR. I CONNECTED BAMBI BUCKET AND PROCEEDED WITH LOAD DROPS ON THE FIRE. AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINS; THE SHIP WAS RELEASED AND THERE WAS A CALL REGARDING POSSIBLE HIKER IN DISTRESS IN THE VALLEY. I RETURNED TO THE RESERVOIR; LANDED INTO WIND; SET DOWN. ROLLED OFF TO IDLE AND FRICTIONED DOWN THE CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE. I GOT OUT TO DISCONNECT AND RE-STOW THE BUCKET. I DISCONNECTED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AND SLID OFF THE HOOK RING. AS THIS WAS HAPPENING; GUSTING WINDS INCREASED AND THE HELI ROTOR CAUGHT A STRONG ENOUGH GUST THAT IT LEANED BACK. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO RETURN TO THE CTLS AND I BELIEVE IT WAS HERE THAT THE TAIL ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH HILL. I LEVELED THE SHIP; WENT TO FLT RPM QUICKLY AND PICKED THE SHIP UP TO THE HOVER TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. I LOOKED TO THE TAIL ROTOR FOR EFFECT; FELT FOR VIBRATIONS AND DID PEDAL TURNS IN EACH DIRECTION AND DID COLLECTIVE CHANGES. FLT CHARACTERISTICS WERE NOMINAL AND NO SIGNS OF DISTRESS WERE EVIDENT. AT THIS TIME I MADE THE DECISION TO LEAVE THE BUCKET AND RETURN TO REFUEL; INSPECT; AND PROCEED WITH EMER CALL. I RETURNED TO CDE AND LANDED. AFTER SHUTDOWN I COULD SEE THE EXTENT OF THE CONTACT. I CALLED TO RPT WHAT OCCURRED. I WAS RECEIVING RADIO CALLS FOR THE HIKER AND PROCEEDED TO PREPARE THE OTHER HELI RESPONDING TO THAT CALL. I BELIEVE MY THINKING AT THE TIME AT THE RESERVOIR WAS TO NOT COMPOUND MY ERROR ON THE GND WITH FAILING TO RESPOND TO A CALL. (AS I WAS THE ONLY PLT ON DUTY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LOGISTICALLY DIFFICULT TO HAVE ANOTHER PLT COME IN AND RESPOND BOTH TO THE EMER CALL AND RETURN WITH MECHANICAL EVALUATION FOR ME IN A TIMELY MANNER.) A JUDGEMENT CALL INFLUENCED BY THE FACT THAT THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACT OCCURRED WHILE THE ACFT WAS ON THE GND WITHOUT ME FEELING ITS EFFECT AND ITS REGULAR FLT RESPONSE THEREAFTER.