Aerospatiale AS350B, VH-SRB, Whistle Duck Creek (70 km east of Wauchope), Northern Territory, on 22 June 1990

Circumstances:

The pilot was supporting a survey team in the field and was positioning to pick up some team members. The landing site chosen had been used to drop off the team members and although level, it was situated on a rocky knob in a gully. The wind at the time was about twenty knots and gusting from the South-East. The pilot initiated an approach into wind but elected to fly the aircraft partially sideways to overcome what he described as restricted visibility from the cockpit. Just before touchdown the gusty wind caused the tail to swing, and the tail rotor struck a small cairn of rocks. The tail rotor, tail boom and drive train were damaged.

Significant Factors:

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

1. Operational hazard - confined landing area and gusty winds. This accident was not the subject of an on-scene investigation.