<p>A helicopter landed, fueled up and took off again before crashing south of Franklin, a federal report said.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Investigators still are looking into the crash, and have not yet filed a final report, which would look to determine what caused the crash.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The initial flight went smoothy, and the pilot landed next to the fuel pump, shut down and fueled the helicopter, the report said.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Shortly after, the helicopter went down in a farm field, the report said.</p>
<p>Pieces of the tail split apart, with some landing about 30 feet away, and the helicopter caught fire, causing significant damage, the report said.</p>
<p>Money was seriously injured, according to the report.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>His condition was not available after the crash from Johnson Memorial Hospital, where he was taken for treatment. Money was not available on Monday.</p>
