Accident Sequence
According to witness accounts, a Schweizer 269C helicopter was observed circling over a house under construction at a low altitude. After one pass, the helicopter slowed down; some witnesses reported that it came to a hover. The helicopter then began to wobble, rotated nose-left, and descended into trees.
Investigation Findings
Investigators examined the airframe and found no evidence of pre-existing mechanical failure. The engine was removed and placed in a test cell, where it performed satisfactorily. The pilot was carrying a dog, which was ejected from the helicopter during the accident sequence. Witnesses reported that the dog was restrained by a harness, but investigators found no evidence to support that the dog was restrained at the time of the accident.