What happened
During an attempt to capture photographs, the pilot of a helicopter maneuvered the aircraft to turn away from the wind. During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced a loss of power due to a lack of airspeed, resulting in the aircraft falling into a river. Two witnesses observed the aircraft fly over trees before dropping toward the water and impacting the surface.
At the time of the accident, the pilot was at the controls. While a passenger had operated the aircraft earlier in the flight, they were not controlling the aircraft during the impact. The individuals involved were not injured.
The investigation
The investigation included an examination of the aircraft and interviews with witnesses and the pilot. Witnesses reported that the engine sounded normal and no unusual noises were heard prior to the impact. No pre-impact defects were identified regarding the mechanical condition of the helicopter.