Date: 201808
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: Turbulence
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Helicopter
Operator: Fractional
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Landing
Reporter organization: Fractional
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Anomaly: Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Detector: Person Ground Personnel
When detected: In-flight
Result: General Physical Injury / Incapacitation
Contributing factors: Company Policy; Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Primary problem: Environment - Non Weather Related

Narrative: The flight was with 6 adult male passengers and a large amount of bags; including golf clubs. We carried round trip fuel; and as such were fairly heavy. On arrival at ZZZ a strong wind was observed to be blowing from the southeast. The FMS showed the winds to be 19 knots from the southeast. The regular approach path would have put this wind on our tail; and the upslope nature of the terrain would have meant that the helicopter would have been out of ground effect until very short final. This approach path would also have put the main structure and bystanders directly in front of the helicopter; leaving no safe escape route in case of settling with power; or a lack of power to ensure a safe landing. After a short discussion; it was decided to make the approach from the northeast; final approach heading being approximately 210; and the path was over open grassland with a few trees. This approach put the wind on our left side; the structures and bystanders in full view of the pilot flying; and the down sloping open area to the left for an escape route into the wind. On short final it was observed that bystanders had moved closer to the planned landing spot; and were now standing in and around a circle of lawn furniture. This area of lawn furniture; around a fire pit; had been discussed among the pilots as late as the day before. No pilots; including myself; had ever seen it being moved by downwash. I did not look at the bystanders closely due to keeping my attention on landing the helicopter; but they were seen to talk to each other; and might have been photographing or filming the landing on their phones. Due to tall trees close to the landing spot; we ended up in a steep approach; but at no time was the approach abnormal or unsafe. As I set the helicopter down; I could see out of the corner of my eye that our downwash was moving furniture. After we were safely on the ground I looked over and could see that furniture had indeed been blown around; and one person was seen to hold his upper thigh area; but was walking around; and proceeded to greet the passengers as they disembarked. Dispatch was immediately informed about the occurrence. It is my opinion that the approach path we chose was the only safe option open to us; and at no time was the approach abnormal or unsafe. Had we approached with a tail wind; with the obstacles and bystanders where they were; we would have had to make a very slow approach. This would have put both the helicopter and passengers in greater risk; and also would have increased the length of exposure to our downwash.


Second narrative: The pilots were landing a helicopter at a private facility with permission from land owner. The landing area is one used on a regular basis. The landing was normal. Once the aircraft departed the landing area; the helicopter base received a phone call from the client that a chair had blown over and struck a person in the knee. No other details were provided at that time. The injury; if any; was minor. The crew was advised of the incident and said no one approached them or advised them of the incident when they were on scene or prior to their departure. No other damage was reported.


Synopsis: A Helicopter pilot landing on private property reported their downwash blew a chair over which hit a bystander.