Hughes 269A, VH-MQF, Barramundi Lagoon, Queensland, on 14 August 1990

Circumstances:

The aircraft had been refuelled from drums at a refuelling point located at one end of the lagoon. The refuelling point was surrounded by tall trees, so the pilot decided to hover taxi out over the lagoon and to execute a take-off from a more open area. The take-off had to be initiated with a slight tailwind, and the pilot intended to turn and to depart upwind after the aircraft had obtained translational lift. As the pilot initiated the take-off, the aircraft experienced a tailwind gust and began to lose height. In an attempt to check the descent, the pilot overpitched the main rotor. The right skid contacted the water surface and the aircraft simultaneously pitched forward and rolled to the right before coming to rest on the lagoon bed. The two occupants evacuated the aircraft without injury.

Significant Factors:

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:

1. The aircraft experienced a tailwind gust as the pilot initiated the take-off.

2. The pilot overpitched the main rotor while attempting to counter height loss from the gust.

3. Loss of lift resulted in the right skid contacting the lagoon surface. This accident was not the subject of an on-scene investigation.