Summary
The pilot was trained on the Hughes 200 Model 269A and was issued with a commercial licence (Helicopters)
on the 15th December, two days before the accident. The licence endorsement for the Hughes 269 covers
both the Model 269A and 269B. Before flying the Model 269B solo, the pilot was accompanied on a local
flight for about one hour by the owner of the helicopter. The aircraft was then flown solo by the pilot from
Waratah to Strahan where the passenger was picked up. He then flew to Low Rocky Point, in good weather
conditions, arriving to observe a wind of about 10 knots from the south. The helipad was a cleared area
surrounded by 4 feet high scrub. Approaching to the hover on the northern end of the pad the aircraft began
to roll to the right. The pilot stated he attempted to correct the roll with left-cyclic control and initially
with some collective, but the aircraft continued to roll to the right even with full left cyclic control. The
collective was lowered but the main rotor blades struck the scrub on the right of the aircraft, and the
aircraft came to rest on its right hand side.
