"...the 222 that went over the cliff at Coloane.." is a slight exageration, the helicopter was on an single-engine ground-run by an authorised and experienced engineer for troubleshooting. To this day he doesn't really know what happened but it is thought that he swung around in the seat to communicate with another engineer outside the helicopter and moved the cyclic too much resulting in the roll-over. Both he and the engineer outside of the helicopter (I believe they were making engine adjustments) were a little shaken and stirred but otherwise unhurt. The helicopter remained on the ramp a safe distance from the drop into the sea.
The atmosphere at EAA (as it was then) was indeed a bit 'agricultural' but it was very young and developing quickly under David Hill who was incredibly supportive. Remember, this was before the establishment of the AACM. When David Hill was repaced by the other two 'gentlemen' the mood changed overnight and then the revolving door began to take effect.