This occurrence was investigated in 1998 and a summary report
was released. The ATSB received new and significant information
about this occurrence in 2004 and initiated further investigation.
As a result the ATSB has revised the summary and reissued the
report as follows:
The pilot reported that he disembarked from the helicopter,
leaving the engine running and the rotors turning, to converse with
a stockman. He was returning to the helicopter when he heard the
helicopter's engine and main rotor RPM increasing. The pilot
attempted to reach the throttle control and was at the right skid
before being forced to dive away as the helicopter became airborne.
The helicopter flew into the ground about 5 m from its lift off
point and was destroyed. There were no injuries. The wind
conditions were reported by the pilot as being light and
variable.
The pilot reported that he had set the engine throttle to 75%,
selected the governor off, and used the cyclic and collective
friction to secure the flying controls. The collective was also
fitted with a strap to help secure its position but the pilot could
not recall if it was deployed. The operator reported that photos
taken after the occurrence indicate that the governor was selected
on and the collective strap was not deployed. The circumstances of
the occurrence are consistent with inadvertent raising of the
collective control.