helimutt,
j21k, if he's who I'm almost certain he is, does indeed fly helicopters. But he's a low hours, very new PPL(H) who's understandably a little concerned as to the reason for this tragic accident. Be gentle with him.
And j21k, if you were as overloaded by that trip as it sounds, perhaps you should make haste a little more slowly, don't you think?