On April 16, 2006, at 1030 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Palulis Exec 162F, N42996, owned and piloted by a student pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a hard landing near Kalkaska, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The local flight originated from the pilot's property near Kalkaska, Michigan, at 1000. The student pilot stated that he was "hovering back" to the hangar when a gust of wind from behind picked up the tail and pushed the helicopter forward. There was a "loss of control," and the helicopter "set down hard." The student pilot stated that he received the following student endorsements: Hover on February 17, 2005 Solo on September 16, 2005 Cross Country on November 23, 2005 The student pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he didn't think he needed a current student solo endorsement; because, the flight was to take place on the pilot's property.