Helicopter landed, fueled up before crash

A helicopter landed, fueled up and took off again before crashing south of Franklin, a federal report said.

The FAA has finished a preliminary report on the July 15 crash that destroyed a Bell 47 helicopter, and injured pilot Richard L. Money, of Columbus.

Investigators still are looking into the crash, and have not yet filed a final report, which would look to determine what caused the crash.

The helicopter took off on a personal flight about 4:15 p.m. on July 15 from the Franklin Flying Field, which is located just south of Franklin.

A witness told investigators Money had been checking out the helicopter because it had not yet been flown this season, according to the FAA report.

The initial flight went smoothy, and the pilot landed next to the fuel pump, shut down and fueled the helicopter, the report said.

The helicopter took off again, and a witness noted the engine sounded smooth. The witness later saw the helicopter flying north of the airport and noticed a plume of white or grey smoke trailing behind it, the report said.

Shortly after, the helicopter went down in a farm field, the report said.

Pieces of the tail split apart, with some landing about 30 feet away, and the helicopter caught fire, causing significant damage, the report said.

Money was seriously injured, according to the report.

After the crash, friends who had been watching Money fly and drove to where the helicopter landed, picked him up and drove him to the hospital. A Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputy noted Money had burns to his legs and multiple cuts on his arms and face.

His condition was not available after the crash from Johnson Memorial Hospital, where he was taken for treatment. Money was not available on Monday.