David Bennett, president of the South Coast Recreational Flying Club, said he was standing just six metres from the helicopter when it crashed during take-off from the Jaspers Brush airfield, south of Berry, about 3.55pm yesterday.

Mr Bennett said he met the men, who were off to do some filming for a documentary, for the first time just before he watched the crash unfold.

``Something has gone wrong and they have crashed to the ground and burned,'' Mr Bennett said.

``I don't know who they were, other than . . . they were filming a documentary down in Jervis Bay.

``They had a pilot and cameraman on board and they were taking off together to do some filming.''

The 50-year-old pilot, from Melbourne, and his passenger, an American aged in his 50s, died at the scene.

A Rural Fire Service spokesman said crews arrived to find the helicopter well alight.

The crash occurred near a hangar and people there had already started fighting the fire before crews arrived, the spokesman said.

The fire burned ``mostly within the cabin area'' of the helicopter before sparking a grass fire, he said.

Police have established a crime scene and will prepare a report for the coroner.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is arranging a team of investigators to examine the scene.

Two investigators from Canberra and two from Brisbane will arrive at the site this morning.