What happened
On August 3, 2020, an Airbus EC130-B4 helicopter, registration N55GJ, was involved in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee. The flight departed McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) at approximately 1826 for a local flight. At about 1940, the pilot initiated a right circling approach over the Tennessee River, intending to land at a site on his property near the river's edge.
The pilot was descending at a 25° angle with low power and low airspeed, planning to hover taxi to the landing site at a height of approximately 75 feet above the water. While attempting to add power to arrest the descent, the helicopter began to settle. Despite the pilot applying maximum power, the aircraft continued to descend until it impacted the river.
A passenger reported that the helicopter descended toward the water in a level attitude, at which point the left skid and rotor hit the water, causing the aircraft to torque into the river on the left side. The pilot and two passengers successfully exited the aircraft before it sank, but one fatal injury occurred when a third passenger was unable to egress and subsequently drowned.
The investigation
An investigation by the FAA revealed the helicopter came to rest on the bottom of the Tennessee River, approximately 435 feet from the intended landing site. The wreckage was recovered mostly intact, though the fenestron had separated from the tailboom. Examination of the airframe and flight control systems showed no evidence of mechanical malfunction or pre-impact failure.
Data from the engine monitoring display and digital engine control unit indicated the engine was running at the time of impact and showed no failures or limit exceedances prior to the accident. The aircraft's gross weight at the time of the accident was approximately 4,440.2 lbs, which was within the maximum allowable gross weight of 5,350 lbs, and the center of gravity was within limits.