Ground injury involving a Aerospatiale Industries AS.350B, VH-HVT, Torquay, VIC on 10 January 1993

A surf competition was being held. Teams with their equipment were on the beach. The pilot made a landing approach from over the sea, with an estimated 15 knot tailwind, towards the designated helicopter landing site where two other media helicopters had already landed. The pilot was being guided into the landing site by another helicopter pilot on the ground. On short final he realised that his rotor downwash had diverted to the right front of the helicopter and was dislodging equipment on the beach. He immediately aborted the approach and landed elsewhere. The diverted downwash lifted a surf boat which struck and injured a female competitor.