27-Oct-2011Source: Baltimore Sun
Former officer Samuel K. Miller, wrote a memo in 2006 criticizing the Police Department for failing to properly train officers in the helicopter unit and to properly maintain the helicopters. The settlement includes a $120,000 payment to Miller and $125,000 in legal fees and other costs (see full story)... Read more
1-Oct-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Here’s an interesting, and impactful story of the US legal system proving an amateur-built helicopter was both incorrectly registered and violated certain airworthiness regulations. The potential exists for the details of this case to be felt wider in the future. See NTSB statement and comment from Reigel Law Firm. Actual accident referred to was N75EW... Read more
5-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The husband of a female patient killed in recent EMS AS350 crash has filed a lawsuit against operator Air Methods, saying the company took an unnecessary risk by flying with low fuel. Victor Tacoronte’s wife, Terry, and three other people were killed on 26th August when a LifeNet helicopter crashed near Mosby, about 20 miles... Read more
1-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
A jury is currently deliberating a case in Houston were a Department of Homeland Security pilot stands accused of lying about whether he flew his helicopter low over two would-be illegal immigrants in the Rio Grande in South Texas before one of the men drowned. Surveillance video footage allegedly shows pilot James Peters flying his... Read more
31-Aug-2011Source: South African Police Service
A helicopter pilot has appeared in the Pretoria magistrate court for flying and crashing a helicopter while his license was suspended. It is alleged that on the 2rd of December last year Rainier Prinsloo, whose license was suspended by the SA Civil Aviation Authority got involved in a helicopter crash at Baltimore in Limpopo. He,... Read more
31-Aug-2011
A man who stole a San Diego police detective’s guns last year and used them to shoot at Escondido police two days later was sentenced to 34 years to life in prison. (See full story)... Read more
15-Aug-2011Source: Times Union
Court records show that Trooper Brian D. Rumrill, of Lake George provided a written statement to State Police investigators on July 14 recounting his purchase of an aviation GPS device from former State Police Maj. Robert U. Kreppein. (Full story)... Read more
8-Aug-2011Source: Kitsap Sun
The son of a pilot involved in a fatal R22 accident is suing Robinson alleging the helicopter was out of compliance with certain government regulations and didn’t provide “adequate warnings or instructions” concerning them. (Full story, but see also the associated comments) The NTSB ruled in October 2009 that Aadland’s engine lost power due to... Read more
1-Aug-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Illinois legislators have passed state-level law which will make it illegal to target a laser at the cockpit of an aircraft. The law was recently signed onto the statute books by Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn, as one of a package of new laws to fight crime and protect residents across the state, and will become... Read more
27-Jul-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The Philippine National Police “PNP” have a total of three Robinson R44 helicopters, acquired in 2009. These consist of two Raven Is and one Raven II, and the PNP believed at the time that they were all being acquired factory-new. A big national controversy has been raised in recent weeks after it turned out that... Read more
26-Jul-2011Source: HeliHub.com
A 21-year old electrician working at Goodwood Airfield has opened a legal process seeking damages after being struck by flying debris from a crashing Robinson R44. As a result, Sebastian Ward had his leg amputated below the knee. Mr ward was installing wiring on a new hangar at Goodwood aerodrome when R44 Clipper G-CLPR crashed... Read more
25-Jul-2011Source: Katz, Marshall & Banks
On June 28, 2011, David Simmons, a former Quality Assurance Supervisor for Sikorsky Global Helicopters (“SGHâ€), filed a whistleblower-retaliation charge against SGH, alleging that the company terminated him for complaining about extensive flight-safety issues and noncompliance with Federal Aviation Regulations at SGH’s Keystone Engine Services (“KESâ€) facility in Coatesville, PA. Simmons filed his complaint with... Read more
5-Jul-2011
Aviation manufacturer Sikorsky has lost another court challenge in its attempt to move a lawsuit over the fatal 2009 Cougar Helicopters crash to the U.S. The company has argued that a pending lawsuit should be heard in Connecticut, where the company is based. (full story)... Read more
28-Jun-2011Source: Watertown Daily Times
The general contractor on Samaritan Medical Center’s $61 million expansion has filed suit against a subcontractor who installed a helicopter landing pad, claiming the pad was not designed to withstand conditions resulting from freezing temperatures – see article... Read more
27-Jun-2011Source: Sacramento Bee
Michael Edward Todd, 31, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court last month to conspiring to illegally export the parts. He is scheduled for sentencing in August.  Hamid “Hank†Seifi, pleaded guilty to that charge and to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Seifi was sentenced to 56 months in prison, followed by three years... Read more
26-Jun-2011Source: Star Tribune
The CEO of Life Link III, a nonprofit medical transportation consortium run by nine Twin Cities health care organizations, was arrested Thursday at the company’s Minneapolis offices and charged with six felony tax charges. Richard Carter McComb, 64, was booked into the Hennepin County jail, where his bail was set at $250,000. More details... Read more
21-Jun-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Lansing Community College’s aviation mechanics program is the centre of an investigation involving a Bell OH-58A Kiowa. Harry Whitehead, the lead faculty member who ran the aviation program before he was fired last month, allegedly tried to sell the helicopter to a long-time acquaintance two years ago. He was expecting a running OH-58 in exchange... Read more
16-Jun-2011Source: Times Union
A client of a Texas lawyer who pleaded guilty to helping in a judge’s extortion scheme in Brownsville has sued to recoup more than $5 million in attorney fees.... Read more
6-Jun-2011Source: Briskman Briskman & Greenberg
A defective aircraft and wrongful death lawsuit will continue court proceedings in Illinois, ruled the Appellate Court of Illinois, First Judicial District, Sixth Division. Michael Russell flew an emergency medical service helicopter for Air Angels, Inc. throughout Cook County. He died when the aircraft he was piloting crashed. His family subsequently discovered that one of... Read more
3-Jun-2011Source: FAA
Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Randy Babbitt announced today that the FAA will begin to impose civil penalties against people who point a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft. “Our top priority is protecting the safety of the traveling public. We will not hesitate to take tough action... Read more
31-May-2011Source: Today's Zaman
A police helicopter that crashed into the waters of the Bosporus Strait last week might have been sabotaged, with the surviving pilot saying the engine and rotor of the aircraft experienced unusual vibration, which investigators say might have been caused by electromagnetic waves.... Read more
31-May-2011Source: Southland Times
David Maxwell Kershaw, 57, managing director, of Frankton, was remanded without plea when he appeared before Judge Dominic Flatley in the Queenstown District Court yesterday. The charges relate to Kershaw’s previous directorship of Heliworks Queenstown Helicopters.... Read more
24-May-2011Source: Louisiana Record
A former employee of ERA Helicopters claims she was fired after reporting that male co-workers subjected her to a hostile work environment through sexually suggestive comments and inappropriate touching.... Read more
23-May-2011Source: FLIR Systems
FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:Â FLIR) today announces that it has entered into a definitive agreement with William J. Parrish and E. Timothy Fitzgibbons (“Plaintiffs”) to settle claims filed in 2008 arising out of FLIR’s acquisition of Indigo Systems Corporation in 2004, Plaintiffs’ ensuing employment with FLIR, and litigation between the parties filed by FLIR in 2006.... Read more
19-May-2011Source: Moscow-Pullman Daily News
An environmental group is suing the U.S. Forest Service over plans to use a helicopter to drive bison from Montana into Yellowstone National Park.... Read more
18-May-2011Source: San Francisco Chronicle
The indictment alleges that Willy De Greef, 70, and Frederic Roland Nicolas Depelchin, 39, sent the parts to unidentified customers through their companies, Meca Airways Ltd. and Meca Overseas Airways Ltd, which were also named as defendants.... Read more
5-May-2011Source: Arizona Republic
The company sought dismissal, with its attorneys arguing that Arizona has almost no connection to the lawsuit and that the accident wreckage, aircraft records and accident witnesses are all believed to be located in Turkey in the custody of the national police.... Read more
28-Apr-2011Source: Orlando Sentinel
Jason Dennis McGuire, 27, was convicted on charges of attempted destruction of an aircraft, possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony, and for using a firearm during a violent crime.... Read more
21-Apr-2011Source: Gates and Partners
The international aviation and commercial law firm Gates and Partners announce the opening of its new office in Dubai as soon as regulatory formalities are completed and the recruitment of new partners Jim Edmunds and Anthony Frances who are joining the firm from the Dubai office of Clyde and Co. Senior Partner Sean Gates said... Read more
18-Apr-2011Source: HeliHub.com
In a recent filing in the London Gazette, one of the official journals of record of the British government, British helicopter operator Sterling Helicopters is facing complete closure. Published on Friday 15th April, a document dated Wednesday 13th April indicated that Toby Blackwell Ltd was seeking a petition to wind up (close) the company, claiming... Read more
16-Apr-2011Source: Kent Police
A 21-year-old Maidstone man has been sentenced to eight months in prison for endangering the Kent and Essex Police helicopter while it was on a task in Maidstone last year. On the evening of 24 June 2010 the police helicopter was carrying out a search in the town centre when someone shining a laser pen in the... Read more
13-Apr-2011Source: Barger & Wolen
In two days in late March, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Sonoma County Superior Court dismissing separate claims by EMS operators seeking to obtain medical provider benefits under workers’ compensation without following the dictates of the California workers’ compensation system... Read more
12-Apr-2011Source: Forbes
Quote from the Forbes article about the owner of MD Helicopters states:- “We’ve uncovered dozens of complaints against Tilton and her firm, just by searching databases for the federal and New York State Supreme court systems alone”... Read more
8-Apr-2011Source: US Justice Dept
The Justice Department today announced that it has filed a lawsuit alleging that Air Methods Corp. and LifeMed Alaska LLC willfully violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) by discriminating against and failing to reemploy Chief Warrant Officer Third Class Jonathon L. Goodwin of Wasilla, Alaska.  The suit was filed in... Read more
5-Apr-2011Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com has heard that a criminal case has been opened regarding the theft of more than 4,000 helicopter parts from Kazan Helicopter Plant, valued at 6.8 million roubles (approx $250K). The law enforcement agencies in Tatarstan have said that parts from the factory were taken away by truck. The gang included not only the heads... Read more
22-Mar-2011Source: HeliHub.com
A Canadian corporation hired to provide helicopter services in Afghanistan for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is suing in Washington federal court to keep the contents of the contract confidential. Canadian Commercial Corp., which bids for defense contracts on behalf of Canadian companies, filed the suit lasty week against the US Dept of Defence... Read more
11-Mar-2011Source: Knox News
The suit alleges the failure of the FADEC system in an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter was a direct and proximate cause of two deaths when it crashed near Mosul, Iraq in February 2010. HeliHub.com accident page – 21-Feb-10 Bell OH-58D at Qayyarah Airfield West, Northern Iraq (2F)... Read more
11-Mar-2011
Department of Labor Administrative Law Judge William Dorsey ruled in favor of helicopter mechanic Mark Van who was fired by Portneuf Medical Center (an Idaho hospital) for repeatedly raising concerns about violations of FAA safety standards in their helicopter air ambulance program.... Read more
6-Mar-2011Source: Star Gazette
Judge rules that two claims in the Schweizer $12M lawsuit against Sikorsky will stand. One claim states that Connecticut-based aircraft maker Sikorsky failed to work with the Schweizer family to settle two product liability suits, a condition included in the purchase agreement.... Read more
1-Mar-2011
A court in Munich on Tuesday handed down a one-year suspended prison sentence to an Austrian soldier for providing the Russian secret service with secret information on a subsidiary of defense giant EADS.... Read more
27-Feb-2011
Erickson Air-Crane and Evergreen Helicopters have reached an out-of-court settlement after a judge granted Evergreen a partial summary judgment in its breach of contract and antitrust claims.... Read more
17-Feb-2011Source: Monsters & Critics
A Swedish appeals court Wednesday handed down tougher sentences for three men jailed for a dramatic helicopter robbery at a cash depot in Stockholm.... Read more
12-Feb-2011Source: Whistler Question
The heliskiing company filed a suit against the parties last year, saying the security regulations put in place for the Games made it impossible to run the business.... Read more
11-Feb-2011Source: Record Searchlight
Kevin Wayne Foster was ordered to stand trial on two felony and two misdemeanor counts stemming from the potentially dangerous Dec. 6 helicopter incident. If convicted, Foster faces about 4 years 8 months in prison, said Shasta County Deputy District Attorney Craig Omura.... Read more
6-Feb-2011Source: Winnipeg Free Press
Two widows whose husbands were killed in a British Columbia helicopter crash have won a court fight to add Transport Canada to the list of people and groups they claim are liable. The accident occurred 17-Sep-05... Read more
2-Feb-2011Source: NZ Herald
“There has been dishonesty of a serious kind for a long time by Mr and Mrs Rogers, all of which has been directed to seeking to preserve assets for the personal benefit of Mr and Mrs Rogers,” judge Woodhouse said in December.... Read more
2-Feb-2011
A helicopter pilot with the Department of Homeland Security has been indicted for making false statements to investigators about an incident where a man drowned trying to cross the Rio Grande River. Helicopter involved was OH-6 N5185B... Read more
29-Jan-2011Source: MA Equipment
A $32 million lawsuit has been filed in an Ohio Court against Patriarch Partners and Patriarch’s CEO and founder, Lynn Tilton. The suit was filed on behalf of MA Equipment Leasing I LLC and MA 265 North Hamilton Road LLC. The suit, (case number 09CVH 08 12912 ) filed in the Common Pleas Court of... Read more
28-Jan-2011Source: Merkur Online
Russian national accused of passing secrets with the help of a former engineer of Eurocopter in Ottobrunn [click on Merkur Online link]... Read more
27-Jan-2011Source: San Angelo Standard Times
Police identified the pilot as Richard Zane Whitesides, aged 21. The R22 was impounded, and contained both firearms and several empty beer cans. Dusty Whitaker, prinicpal of Whitesides’ employer Texas Extreme Helicopters said the flight was not authorized. Whitesides was fired the next day... Read more
26-Jan-2011Source: AEX
Court case was prompted by the fatal accident in January 2009 which killed 7, and subsequent photos showed carcases of animals which are subject of hunting bans [file photo]... Read more
19-Jan-2011Source: Cranfield University
Course date: 14-18 Mar 2011 Course overview The Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre is proud to offer a new course for transport accident investigators who may find themselves involved in the various legal processes including Coronial Inquiry, Public Inquiry, Fatal Accident Inquiry and both civil and criminal litigation. The course has been developed in... Read more
13-Jan-2011Source: Buffalo News
The state of Maryland has filed a $4 million lawsuit against the federal government over the 2008 crash of a state police helicopter that killed four people.... Read more
10-Jan-2011Source: Telegraph
Soon after the Edinburgh-London journey began, passengers noticed the train was being “buzzed†and that a helicopter was flying low over it, criss-crossing its path. Some were so worried they immediately contacted the CAA, whilst others filmed what was happening on their mobile phones.... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: Gazette
The sole survivor of a 2008 Maryland State Police helicopter crash in District Heights has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the FAA, alleging negligence on the part of air traffic controllers.... Read more
17-Nov-2010Source: Star Gazette
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Stuart, Leslie and Paul H. Schweizer, who all served as president of the company on a rotating basis. Japanese company Kawada Industries that acquired a 25% stake in Schweizer in 1992, is also listed as a plaintiff. They are seeking at least $2.8 million... Read more
28-Oct-2010Source: The Telegram
Cougar launched the lawsuit in June against both Sikorsky and its subsidiary Helicopter Services Inc. (HSI), but has recently served notice it was discontinuing the civil action against HSI.... Read more
26-Oct-2010Source: Daily Record
The MoD have accepted liability, but the exact settlement has yet to be decided. The men are suing for “injury, loss and damage”. The accident happened in August 2007 during low-level flight near the Army’s Catterick base.... Read more
22-Oct-2010Source: Statesman
Plaintiffs’ attorneys and a lawyer for PHI Inc. said Thursday that confidential terms of the settlements will be filed. see also Accident report on HeliHub.com... Read more
20-Oct-2010Source: The Telegram
Lawyers for Cougar Helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. were in court Monday to debate a procedural issue in Cougar’s $27-million lawsuit against the U.S. helicopter manufacturer.... Read more
1-Oct-2010Source: NewsOK
Police say they’ve arrested a man and charged him with shooting at the Oklahoma City Police Department’s helicopter in June.... Read more
1-Oct-2010Source: KFYI
Christopher Jones pleaded guilty to 35 counts, including car theft and running from the police. He is not charged with the deaths of the four men who died when the KTVK and KNXV helicopters covering the chase collided.... Read more
25-Sep-2010Source: KFMB
A 44-year-old South Bay man was behind bars Thursday for allegedly shining a laser pointer at an airborne police helicopter, a felonious act that can temporarily blind a pilot.... Read more
23-Sep-2010Source: Sebastian Gibson
An unexpected catastrophe is happening on the way from horrific accident scenes in California on the way to hospitals in EMS helicopters. The helicopters are crashing killing many of the occupants at an unacceptable rate. If you’ve been injured in Southern California, whether it is in Laguna Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Orange,... Read more
23-Sep-2010Source: Helsingin Sanomat
The fatal August 2005 helicopter accident in the Gulf of Finland will not lead to criminal prosecution in Estonia, the country’s General Prosecution Office announced on Tuesday.... Read more
18-Sep-2010Source: WHEC
John Casciani filed a lawsuit when Webster passed a law in 2006 that prohibited the landing of private aircraft in the town. Casciani wanted to land his helicopter in his back yard.... Read more
16-Sep-2010
Contrary to state law requirements, Solano County did not establish an EOA prior to awarding an air ambulance contract to CALSTAR in 2007, and because of this the contract must be terminated... Read more
13-Sep-2010Source: The Telegram
Lawyers for both companies appeared in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court in St. John’s today to set the Nov. 22 hearing date.... Read more
9-Sep-2010Source: Earth Times
Ten men charged with planning and conducting a daring helicopter heist at a cash depot in the Swedish capital Stockholm a year ago should receive maximum sentences, prosecutors said Thursday in their closing arguments.... Read more
9-Sep-2010Source: Yahoo NZ
In a last minute change of plea, a Turangi man has admitted a charge of endangering life after throwing rocks at a helicopter, causing more than $20,000 worth of damage.... Read more
8-Sep-2010Source: BBC
A 14-year-old youth accused of shining a laser pen at a police helicopter in Leicester has failed to convince the High Court he should not be prosecuted... Read more
4-Sep-2010Source: Vancouver Sun
Olaronke Adunal Fakunle, 40, appeared in court Thursday, where she acknowledged she embezzled money while working as accounts-payable clerk for STARS in Alberta and used it for personal expenses between Sept. 7, 2007, and Oct. 9, 2008.... Read more
1-Sep-2010Source: Oklahoman
Trooper Joe Howard was working in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s aircraft division in 2008 when several helicopter parts were alleged to have gone missing... Read more
18-Aug-2010Source: Louisiana Record
Mississippi resident is suing a helicopter courier service for insisting to transport him in severe and dangerous weather.... Read more
5-Aug-2010Source: Times of Swaziland
Gert Stemmet, in his court papers, alleges that he entered into an oral agreement with the army, which was represented by Colonel Mdzue W. Khumalo, around October 2009 for the provision of mechanical services to the “fleet of helicopters” belonging to the army.... Read more
