aviation disasters

Six former employees of a Federal Aviation Administration certified air-repair station have been accused of improper repairs that endanger the lives of fliers, according to recent news sources.

In one instance, two of the employees used a paper clip instead of the proper part in a repair, returning it to the customer as complete.

The air-repair station they were employed at was the WECO Aerospace Systems Inc., where they directed technicians. The indictment the employees face alleges that they violated FAA regulations while telling customers they had been repaired by those regulations. The indictment also points out that the accused did not even possess the proper equipment they needed to repair the parts..

“While it is fortunate that there are no aircraft crashes known to be associated with faulty repairs conducted by these defendants, their alleged conduct needlessly took risks with the safety of persons who used aircraft that they repaired,” said a U.S. Attorney.

As a Los Angeles aviation disaster lawyer, I am appalled that these workers would knowingly put profit before the safety of lives of individuals. I’m glad that no one was injured as a result of the flippancy with which these people conducted such a serious business. If you or someone you know has been injured in a plane accident and believe it was at the fault of another party, or due to a lax in regulation, I want you to know that the airplane crash lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle are here to discuss your legal options with you.

Among the panic that filled the air in the moments after the horrific Reno air show accident, the calm of one of the show’s long-time announcers played a huge part in containing the situation that has claimed 11 lives to date, and injured many more.

“As an announcer, it’s my job to be entertaining, educational and to be able to be an extension of emergency services communication,” the announcer said. “We told people if they were injured to stay where they were and tried to get families to take their kids away from there.”

The announcer has been working at the air races in Reno since 1999. He was about 35 feet away from where the crash occurred. The announcers stayed on the scene for almost three hours after the crash happened, until the National Transportation Safety Board took over.

The remaining races of the weekend were canceled, but the announcer, a pilot himself, does not believe that the races should be cancelled in the future.

“This is the fastest motorsport in the world and also the safest. It’s safer than car racing, boat racing, monster trucks. Had this happened at any other spot on the course, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

This is the first accident in which spectators died, but the Reno air show is no stranger to fatalities. Twenty pilots have died since 1964. However, this accident will not stop the announcer from returning to the event for years to come, if officials decide to continue it after the investigation concludes.

“This is one of the most professional events I’ve ever done,” he stated. “I’ll be there as long as they’ll have me.”

As an aviation disaster lawyer, I’m glad this man was able to direct crowds after the accident, possibly averting more tragedy. However, I know that many victims are questioning the safety of this event and the regulations that are in place. Some victims and family members of victims are choosing to pursue the matter legally. If you or someone you love was injured or killed in this event, I advise you speak with a plane accident lawyer to help you during this difficult time. The airplane crash lawyers at Panish Shea & Boyle are experienced in aviation disaster cases and are here for you to consult at any time. You may be eligible for compensation for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of this terrible tragedy.

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.