What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 9, 2010, during a telephone interview with the PIC, privacy data omitted, he stated that the helicopter, Bell 47G (N7069J) which was equipped with two fixed floats, took-off from a private airstrip on Shaw Island along with passenger privacy data omitted (also a rated pilot). About 300 feet above ground/water level, the pilot rated passenger asked the PIC if he wanted carburetor heat applied. The PIC agreed but the passenger pulled the mixture half way down instead of the carburetor heat. Subsequently, the engine lost power. The PIC looked up; saw the mixture half way out, while initiating an auto rotation to the water. Upon landing, the helicopter nosed over and came to rest inverted within the water. The PIC and passenger exited the helicopter without any injuries.
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 9, 2010, DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH THE PIC, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, HE STATED THAT THE HELICOPTER, BELL 47G (N7069J) WHICH WAS EQUIPPED WITH TWO FIXED FLOATS, TOOK-OFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP ON SHAW ISLAND ALONG WITH PASSENGER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ (ALSO A RATED PILOT). ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND/WATER LEVEL, THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER ASKED THE PIC IF HE WANTED CARBURETOR HEAT APPLIED. THE PIC AGREED BUT THE PASSENGER PULLED THE MIXTURE HALF WAY DOWN INSTEAD OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PIC LOOKED UP; SAW THE MIXTURE HALF WAY OUT, WHILE INITIATING AN AUTO ROTATION TO THE WATER. UPON LANDING, THE HELICOPTER NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED WITHIN THE WATER. THE PIC AND PASSENGER EXITED THE HELICOPTER WITHOUT ANY INJURIES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N7069J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.