Accident Overview
On 22 May 2002, a Hughes 269C helicopter operated by a commercial air transport company was involved in an accident near Farcha, Gemeinde Krottendorf, Styria, Austria. The aircraft, of German nationality, was performing a photo flight with a pilot and a photographer on board.
Flight Sequence
The pilot departed from Weiz at 15:22 UTC. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to approximately 100 meters above ground, the helicopter began to experience loud noises and vibrations. The main rotor RPM dropped rapidly, forcing the pilot to descend. Autorotation was not possible due to low altitude and terrain. By lowering the collective pitch, the pilot temporarily regained some rotor RPM. To clear trees and reach a field, the pilot had to increase power, causing the rotor RPM to drop again.
The helicopter reached the field with low rotor RPM and a high sink rate. During an attempted skid landing, the aircraft settled into the soft, uneven ground and tilted. To prevent capsizing, the pilot used residual rotor RPM to level the helicopter, causing it to rotate 180 degrees and come to rest facing the landing direction.
Injuries and Damage
Neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained injuries. The helicopter suffered substantial damage to the landing gear, tail boom, and main rotor blades.
Investigation Findings
Before the flight, the pilot refueled and performed hover tests with no abnormalities. Magneto and water checks were also normal. An engine test run on 26 June 2002 found no technical defects. However, fuel analysis of the AVGAS revealed slight contamination with water and organic material.