Chitchat,
There is a fallacy about helicopters being able to do everything. We're certainly more flexible than the fix-wing guys and I guess thats why it's rewarding.
An aeroplane pilot has charts and graphs to accept or decline a tailwind component on his runway, and many a time they'll say no due to performance limitatations.
You lucky b....... has quite often have to make that decision by arriving in the middle of nowhere, with one way in and one way out (that's why they asked for a helicopter).
On jobs I've been on before, the guys who have damaged themselves or the equipment or been very scared taking off or landing, have 99% of the time been heavy. I think most of them knew the machines pretty well and all it came down to was a lack of judgement , probably on a routine job.
The previous replies have all said how it should be done, and that is the way to do it. However, always make sure you're comfortable, or take someone else along who's done it and bail out when he starts twittering.
