By admin on July 26, 2010
The family of a teenage survivor of a 2008 helicopter crash that killed four, insist that the accident was a result of negligence, in spite of a report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicating otherwise. The Anchorage Daily News reports that the boy was an illegitimate passenger aboard the Eurocopter AS-350 B2 that had been chartered by the Alaska Department of Administration Enterprise Technology Systems to transport employees to a telecommunications site for scheduled maintenance. Non-employees are not permitted in state-owned or state-chartered vehicles.
The accident allegedly occurred when the teenager inadvertently knocked a floor-mounted fuel flow lever with his backpack, pushing the lever into the emergency position. His family claims that the helicopter’s operating company, Era Helicopters, failed to install a basic safety mechanism that has been available by the manufacturer “on request” since 2007. The lever guard is not currently required, but such a requirement is currently under consideration. According to the NTSB’s report, at least three other past accidents can be attributed to the fuel flow lever on the vehicle.
Although rare, helicopter accidents often result in serious injuries and death to passengers. The increasing popularity of helicopter travel means that more accidents are likely to occur. Related injuries can be disastrous for victims and their families, producing staggering medical bills, lost income and severe emotional and psychological damage. From 1995-2002, California was the state with the most fatal helicopter injuries, representing 16% of all fatal injuries involving helicopters in the U.S.
The litigation of helicopter accidents is often complex, requiring attorneys with years of experience and the resources necessary to handle this type of lawsuit. Helicopter accident claims require in-depth investigations and skilled legal representation. If you have been injured in a helicopter accident, or if you have lost a loved one, contact the helicopter crash lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP by calling (877) 800-1700 for a free consultation regarding your case.
By admin on July 12, 2010
A www.wishtv.com article discusses a recent $5.6 million settlement for the children of a single mother and flight nurse member of an Air Evac helicopter rescue team who was killed in a 2008 Indiana helicopter accident. An investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board and research collected by expert air crash investigators determined that the helicopter’s rotor blade cracked because of flaws stemming from the manufacturing of the blade.
As this particular helicopter collision demonstrates, when rotor blades are not designed or manufactured correctly, catastrophic failure of these helicopter components can lead to sudden blade fracture and subsequent fatal or injury accidents. According to the article, the blade split mid-air, causing the helicopter to crash.
Defective helicopter parts are responsible for many catastrophic injury and wrongful death helicopter accidents. Determining whether a design flaw or a manufacturing defect contributed to a helicopter crash requires meticulous investigation and a thorough examination of evidence. Pilot error or a combination of factors can also cause helicopter crashes. Family members who have lost loved ones due to helicopter collisions deserve to know the series of events leading up to the accident. These investigations also play a critical role in the creation of new helicopter manufacturing, operation and maintenance rules and regulations that help prevent future incidents from taking place.
The California helicopter crash attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP have obtained several successful case outcomes for helicopter accident victims and family members of fatal helicopter accident victims. Our law firm has built a national reputation in aviation disaster and product liability litigation, lending us the legal knowledge and experience to take on any helicopter crash case. For more information about your legal rights and how the attorneys at Panish Shea & Boyle LLP can help you, please visit www.psblaw.com or call 877-800-1700 for a free consultation.
By admin on January 5, 2010
The LA Times has reported that three biologists from the California Department of Fish and Game have been killed in a helicopter crash in the Sierra National Forest. The crash which occurred on January 5, 2010 also appears to have claimed the life of the pilot. The biologists were conducting deer surveys in a wooded, remote area near Fresno and the Madera county line.
Authorities stated that the crash took place south of Redinger Lake, California and the explosion following the crash has resulted in a fire. A Madera County Sheriff’s spokeswoman said that the site of the fire is inaccessible, but moisture and light winds have prevented it from spreading rapidly.
At the time of the article’s release, information regarding what specifically caused the helicopter to crash was not provided. Our hearts go out to the families of these biologists and the helicopter pilot.
Helicopter crashes can be devastating and present life-altering consequences for injured victims and their families. Due to the nature of helicopters, many collision victims are either catastrophically injured or killed. A helicopter crash, like the one in the Sierra National Forest, can happen for a variety of reasons, some which can be attributed to negligence. The National Transportation Safety Board may determine that poor helicopter maintenance, human error, or flying with an unsafe load contributed to this helicopter accident in California. If this is the case, then qualifying family members of the deceased victims may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Other factors investigators may consider is whether the helicopter’s gearboxes, engines, or main rotor heads failed and why.
The trial attorneys at the law firm of Panish, Shea & Boyle have extensive experience holding potentially liable parties accountable in helicopter and aviation accidents. Our track record of success in wrongful death and aviation accident cases is unmatched and our helicopter crash attorneys have the knowledge and experience to help helicopter injury victims and their families throughout the state of California and beyond. We understand the many tragic affects a helicopter crash may impose upon a family, which is why we are dedicated to helping our clients receive full and just compensation for their loss and financial difficulties. To learn more about Panish, Shea & Boyle’s many achievements in aviation law, please visit www.aviation-disaster-lawyers.com or call 1-800-591-8116 for a free consultation of your case.
Source:http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sierra-crash6-2010jan06,0,1206170.story
By admin on August 10, 2009
According to a recent report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the helicopter wreckage from the August 8, 2009 mid-air crash that took the lives of nine people was recently found and excavated from the Hudson River. Recovery teams have also located the plane involved in the helicopter crash, and are working towards recovering the aircraft from the murky waters of the Hudson. According to Debbie Hersman, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), “…hopeful they’ll be able to pull up” the plane soon.
The small plane was carrying only two passengers in addition to the pilot, while the helicopter was carrying a total of six people, pilot included. All but two of the bodies have been recovered. Both pilots were experienced, and pre-existing medical conditions that may have contributed towards causing the crash were not known to afflict either. According to the NTSB, “the investigation into the crash is expected to take months.”
Though there has not yet been official word as to the cause of the aviation accident, it was reported by witnesses that the plane clipped the helicopter with its wing, thus causing the pilots of both aircraft to lose control. It has been widely criticized that the airspace over the Hudson River is not monitored well enough, and that the probability of accidents occurring is relatively high as a result. Furthermore, according to the NTSB, federal oversight of helicopter tours is not rigorous enough, and it can therefore be speculated that this lax regulatory watch may have contributed to causing the accident as well.
The attorneys at Panish, Shea & Boyle are monitoring new developments regarding this air disaster as they unfold. Our skilled Los Angeles aviation disaster attorneys have experience handling cases involving charter plane accidents, private plane accidents, commercial airlines and helicopters. We have taken leadership roles in high profile aviation disaster cases and have the resources and knowledge to handle yours. For more information, please contact the Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Panish, Shea & Boyle at 1-866-992-1700.
