9 up in a B model. That's pushing range and CG.
Eh???
There are seats for 14 in an S76, be it a B or not. The B has the PT-6 engines and can happily carry the full load, no cg problems, but with less than full fuel. With 5 less pax, there is plenty of fuel and no cg problems at all.
Could the "sputtering" be a bit of blade slap as he did a few tight turns?