On June 21, 2010, at 1400 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer 269C-1 helicopter, N247FG, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following a loss of engine power in Asheville, North Carolina. The certificated commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight which originated at Foothills Regional Airport (MRN), Morgantown, North Carolina. The aerial photography flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The purpose of the flight was for the passenger to film footage for a documentary, specifically capturing the local "kudzu," an invasive plant species.
According to the pilot, they departed Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), Asheville, North Carolina around 1045 and flew in the local area, filming, until they needed to refuel. The pilot then landed at MRN. The helicopter was fueled with 19 gallons of fuel, filling the fuel tanks to 25 gallons of total fuel. The pilot then departed MRN and flew southwest toward AVL. After about 20 minutes, the passenger spotted an area of "kudzu" he wanted to film. The pilot performed a 360-degree turn and approached the area "straight and level between 30-40 knots to maintain translational lift." As the helicopter was abeam the "kudzu" the pilot heard a pitch change in the engine and noted that the engine/rotor rpm was "in the bottom of the green," and dropping lower. The helicopter was also descending into the trees. The pilot lowered the collective slightly and increased the throttle "to get the rpm back," however the helicopter continued to descend. The engine continued to run, but it was "bogging down." Shortly after, the helicopter impacted the "kudzu," and rolled to the left.
The passenger reported that they were "several hundred feet above the trees," and as they started to pass the first batch of kudzu he noticed they "were a little closer than usual." Shortly after, the pilot stated, "she's settling". According to the passenger, the pilot didn't sound concerned and he continued filming. About 10 seconds later, the pilot stated, "we're going to go down". The passenger noted they were "right on top of the trees going about 5-10mph."
The passenger reported that the helicopter came to a very slow stop above the trees and then felt like they were slowly sinking. He stated that the engine felt like "it was bogging down," just prior to the helicopter beginning a slow, vertical decent until the rotor blades impacted trees and the helicopter dropped to the ground.
