ACFT DAMAGED WHILE PARKING.

Narrative

I LANDED AT THE DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN HELIPORT FOR SHORT TERM PARKING ON 6/FRI/88. I WAS GIVEN THE CHOICE OF PARKING IN 1 OF 3 AVAILABLE SPACES ON THE S SIDE OF THE PARKING BARGE. LIKE MOST HELI OPERATORS IN THE NY AREA; I AM AWARE OF THE CURBING AROUND THE OUTER EDGE OF THE BARGE AND ITS POTENTIAL HAZARDS. MOST HELI PLTS WILL PARK THEIR HELI WITH THE TAIL BOOM POSITIONED OVER THE WATER TO AVOID THE POSSIBILITY OF INADVERTENTLY STRIKING THE CURBING WITH THE TAIL ROTOR. (THE NORMAL PARKING POSITIONS ARE LAID OUT IN A WAY THE PUTS THE TAIL ROTOR OVER THE TOP OF THE CURBING; ALSO NEAR LIGHT STANDS AT SOME LOCATIONS.) IN MY EFFORTS TO POS THE HELI WITH THE TAIL BOOM OVER THE WATER; YET AVOID DAMAGING RADIO ANTENNA NEAR THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE TAIL BOOM; I GOT BACK TOO FAR AND CAUGHT THE LNDG GEAR ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE CURBING; CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LNDG GEAR DOORS. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE PARKING POSITIONS; IN RELATION TO THE CURBING AND LIGHT STANDS; ARE A SERIOUS HAZARD RISKING A TAIL ROTOR STRIKE THAT WOULD CERTAINLY RESULT IN SERIOUS DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE INJURY. I RECOMMEND THAT PARKING POSITIONS BE TEMPORARILY REPOSITIONED UNTIL THE HAZARDS ARE REMOVED.