Tourist sues South African R44 pilot after crash
Source: IOL NEWS, 10-Apr-13
Argentine passenger in R44 accident sues the pilot – her boyfriend’s father (see full story).
Eurocopter’s Kazakhstan JV accused of labour law violations
Source: Eurasianet, 21-Mar-13
Just a week after proudly announcing the expansion of the Kazakh-European joint venture producing military helicopters, it seems that relations between Kazakhstan’s government and its European partner, defense giant Eurocopter, may be getting rocky (see full story).
India’s AW101s – AgustaWestland has 7 days to respond
Source: HeliHub.com, 18-Feb-13
The Indian military have commenced legal proceedings which they hope will lead to the cancellation of their order for twelve VVIP AW101 helicopters. Through the formality of issuing a “show cause notice”, AgustaWestland now have to respond to the court within seven days on specific points to determine whether the contract remains valid or not. [...]
India’s AW101s – Focus on the middlemen
18-Feb-13
“Haschke [the middleman] sold AgustaWestland a story based on my relationship with (cousin) SP Tyagi. We have strained ties. He (Haschke) used my name to siphon off money. The CBI probe will bring out the truth. I welcome the CBI probe,” said the former Indian Air Force chief. (see full story) A new angle has [...]
Helicopter Adventures legal battle heads back to court
Source: Myrtle Beach Online, 12-Feb-13
The ongoing legal battle that could put a new helicopter tour company out of business in the Myrtle Beach area heads back to court this week. (see full story)
Former Carson employees indicted over fatal “Iron 44″ S61 crash
Source: Wildfire Today, 05-Feb-13
Two former employees of Carson Helicopters are facing 20+ years in prison for charges related to a 2008 S61 crash that killed seven firefighters and two crew members (see full story)
UK – Instructor goes to jail for falsifying documents
Source: Yorkshire Post, 04-Feb-13
A British helicopter instructor has been sentenced to six months jail for falsely signing off the training records of a student pilot to get him a pilot’s licence. The Judge said that it was impossible to say whether these actions were contributory to the “newly qualified” pilot and his wife losing their lives in their [...]
Court orders refund of Topeka Police R44 down payment
Source: Topeka Capital-Journal, 03-Feb-13
Kansas Supreme Court upholds the decision of a lower court to invalidate a 2008 contract for Topeka Police to buy an R44 after the down payment of $74,000 had been paid. (see full story here – and the documentation from the court here)
Court denies Bell’s approach in trade secrets row
Source: Law360, 01-Feb-13
A Texas federal judge on Wednesday shot down Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.’s bid to block an aircraft repair company from selling a fuselage repair fixture (see story)
Louisiana man gets prison for shooting at helicopter
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, 27-Jan-13
A Sikes man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for shooting at a Louisiana Army National Guard helicopter during a drug surveillance operation. (see full story)
South Africa court halts export of Alouette IIIs to Zimbabwe
Source: AfriForum, 27-Jan-13
An urgent interim court order was awarded to AfriForum late this afternoon by the North Gauteng High Court to prevent delivery of Alouette III Air Force helicopters by the South African National Defence Force to the Zimbabwean army. The interim order shall stand pending the finalisation of the main application by 19 February 2013. AfriForum [...]
Spain – four employees sanctioned for reporting failures in EMS helicopter
Source: HeliHub.com, 22-Jan-13
At least 40 employees of the 061 – the Spanish public health emergency organisation – staged a protest in Granada last week at the opening of four disciplinary cases. Two EMS workers, a doctor and a health and safety representative are central to the situation which concerns “safety deficiencies” in the operation of the helicopter [...]
British S300 crash lawsuit plays out in the US
15-Jan-13
Negligence claims over a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of two Britons should remain in the US, a judge has ruled. (see full story) We also found this document online relating to this case File photo
Man says Air Methods wrongfully terminated his employment
Source: West Virginia Record, 29-Nov-12
A former employee is suing Air Methods Corporation after he claims his employment was wrongfully terminated because he reported safety violations. (see full story)
Evergreen Helicopters sued by whistleblower
Source: News Register, 25-Nov-12
A San Diego man who worked for Evergreen Helicopters in Afghanistan is suing the company alleging it committed safety violations that endangered employees and the fired him when he raised the issue. (see full story)
Azur Helicoptere fined €80,000 over fatal June 2009 crash
25-Nov-12
Azur Helicopter and its Chairman were found guilty on 10th October of “manslaughter by breach of an obligation of safety or prudence.”. This week they have been given a fine of €80,000 (see full story). The accident is in the HeliHub.com accident database at 20-Jun-09 F-GTRF Eurocopter AS350B2 Mount Cordon, France (7F)
National Park Service issues statement on R22 crash
Source: National Park Service, 19-Nov-12
The National Park Service released a statement this morning regarding the Oct. 3 helicopter crash in North Cascades National Park:- On October 4th, rangers received a report that a leased Robinson 22 helicopter had crashed the day before in a remote area of the park about six miles south of the international border with Canada. [...]
Jury finds defect in Eurocopter AS350B3 Flight Control System
Source: YES Communications, 19-Nov-12
On Friday, November 16, 2012, an El Paso, Texas jury found a defective flight control component caused the fatal crash of a U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) Eurocopter AS350B3 helicopter on May 22, 2007. The crash killed the pilot and critically injured the other crewmember. The two-week trial centered on claims by the pilot’s [...]
ORNGE whistleblower sues scandal-plagued air ambulance
Source: Hamilton Spectator, 13-Nov-12
A former employee of ORNGE is suing Ontario’s scandal-plagued air ambulance service, saying she was fired for helping to expose alleged wrongdoing. (see full story)
Canadian pilot gets 10 years for flying drugs into US
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 09-Nov-12
One of the Canadian masterminds behind a massive northern border drug smuggling operation was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Wednesday for conspiracy to import marijuana. Henry Rosenau, 61, of Armstrong, British Columbia, was indicted in 2006 following a cross-border investigation dubbed “Operation Frozen Timber” led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland [...]
EMS pilot fined for harassing wildlife
Source: KOAA, 09-Nov-12
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has cited a medical helicopter pilot from Arizona for harassing wildlife after a group of hunters observed him flying his ship very low over an elk herd in a canyon southwest of Grand Junction. (see full story) Classic Lifeguard fly four Bell 407s and four fixed-wings
Ireland – Child awarded damages over S76 crash reaction
Source: Irish Independent, 07-Nov-12
A child who suffered nervous shock when a helicopter crashed and exploded in a car park has been awarded €10,000 damages (see full story)
Oakland County Sheriff sued for helicopter incident
Source: MIchigan Live, 05-Nov-12
The complaint says the pilot operated the chopper “in a reckless and negligent fashion” etc (see full story)
Kenya Police considers suing Eurocopter over AS350B3e crash
Source: Kenya Broadcasting, 02-Nov-12
Kenya Police are considering taking Eurocopter to court. The basis is apparently that the manufacturer supplied a newer AS350B3e model and not the older AS350B3 that the police contracted for. (see full story) see also 10-Jun-12 5Y-CDT Eurocopter AS350B3e Ngong Hills, Kenya (6F)
French Court rules in favour of Bell over 429 skids
16-Oct-12
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company announced in the case of Eurocopter vs. Bell Helicopter, a three Judge panel of France’s Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris recently ruled that the Bell 429 production skid gear does not infringe Eurocopter’s French landing skid gear patent. All Bell 429s have been and will continue to be [...]
Students’ legal appeal goes ahead in Silver State Helicopters loan case
Source: Press-Enterprise, 13-Oct-12
A federal appeals court will re-hear the case against a Key Bank that gave out $70,000 loans to students of Silver State Helicopters. Other banks, including Citibank, have forgiven its student loans (see full story)
25 years sentence for shooting at LAPD helicopter
Source: KABC, 12-Oct-12
A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for firing a gun at a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter while it was in flight. He was 18 at the time of the incident (see full story) File Photo
PHI Air Medical and pilot face $120M lawsuit
Source: NewsLeader, 11-Oct-12
A fixed-wing flight instructor and his student were flying in the wrong traffic pattern before being hit by a PHI Air Medical EC135 near Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger on board the airplane were fatally injured. The families of the two victims have filed a $120 million lawsuit against PHI [...]
Bond settles with partners of pilots involved in April 2009 Super Puma crash
07-Oct-12
Paul Burnham, 31, of Methlick, Aberdeenshire, and Richard Menzies, 24, of Worcestershire, were at the controls of the Bond Offshore Super Puma when the aircraft plunged into the sea in April 2009. (see full story) See also this page from our safety data coverage – 01-Apr-09 G-REDL Eurocopter AS332 11m E of Peterhead, UK (16F)
NZ operator fined for “red zone” breach
Source: Otago Daily Times, 26-Sep-12
A Wanaka helicopter company, its pilot and its sole director were fined over NZ $27,000 after admitting charges brought by the NZ CAA, the Department of Conservation and the Ministry for Primary Industries. (see full story)
Oregon company accused of providing phony helicopter parts to US military
Source: Corvallis Gazette-Times, 26-Sep-12
Court records made public Tuesday show that a new search of an Oregon defense contractor accused of providing phony helicopter and truck parts to the military was prompted by testimony from a purchasing agent who is helping investigators. (see full story)
Buyer wins suit over defective ex-police helicopter
Source: Columbus Dispatch, 21-Sep-12
Purchaser awarded C$380,000 in damages against City of Columbus over faults in a helicopter they sold in 2009. (see full story) HeliHub.com research suggests (but NOT confirmed) that the aircraft was serial 0540E, sold ex FAA registration N553CR to Canada in 2009 and first registered to Versatile Helicopters as C-FZHS. It has since been sold [...]
UK – Tiger Helicopters overturns court conviction
Source: Hereford Times, 20-Sep-12
After two days of evidence, Judge Patrick Thomas overturned the convictions against Alan Ramsden and Tiger Helicopters. He said there was “absolutely no evidence” that Ramsden had made false entries. (see full story)
Los Angeles law firm set up website in R22 crash lawsuit
Source: Owen, Patterson & Owen, 17-Sep-12
Robinson Helicopter is the lone defendant in a trial which began in Brisbane, Australia on Thursday, September 13th (Supreme Court of Queensland, Number S 4573/07). The trial is expected to last 14 days. The justice presiding over the trial has ordered that the case be bifurcated. If successful on liability, the damage phase will begin sometime [...]
Bell 429 skids – Legal case goes back to court
Source: Law360, 14-Sep-12
The Federal Circuit has recently allowed Textron Innovations Inc. to pursue its patent suit against Eurocopter over the design of the Bell 429′s skids, overturning a lower court ruling it said misinterpreted the application outlined by the patent. (see full story) See also the HeliHub.com story filed 31-Jan-12 Bell and Eurocopter decide to behave like [...]
Maui pilot sentenced to 500 flight hours in deer case
Source: The Republic, 14-Sep-12
A Maui pilot must make amends for illegally flying axis deer to the Big Island by providing a group trying to eradicate the invasive species there with 500 hours of helicopter flight time (see full story)
AgustaWestland seeks $1.8M back from ORNGE
Source: Toronto Star, 01-Aug-12
AgustaWestland is seeking the return of $1.8M from the controversial marketing services agreement between them and Ontario EMS operator ORNGE – the detail of which is already under investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police. (see full story)
EA denied motion to dismiss Bell’s counter-claims in battlefield helicopter lawsuit
Source: GamePolitics.com, 01-Aug-12
A federal judge has denied a motion by Electronic Arts to dismiss counter-claims in a trademark lawsuit filed by Textron Innovations and Bell Helicopter Textron related to helicopters depicted in its popular Battlefield games. (see full story)
Bristow Group appoints new Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Source: Bristow Group, 20-Jul-12
Bristow Group Inc. (NYSE: BRS), the leading provider of helicopter services to the offshore energy industry, today announced that Edward Chipman (“Chip”) Earle will join the Company as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary effective July 30, 2012. Chip comes to the Company with more than ten years of legal experience; six in the energy industry. Before [...]
Senior VP / General Counsel leaves Bristow Group
Source: HeliHub.com, 26-Jun-12
Randall A Stafford, the Senior Vice President and General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Bristow Group is to leave the company’s employ on 30th June. In an agreement signed with the company, and duly filed with the SEC, on 26th, Mr Stafford will get a severance payment of $1.368 million. Mr Stafford is also contracting [...]
22 face court over Philippine National Police R44 sale
Source: Rappler, 07-Jun-12
Charges were filed on Wednesday 6th against Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, former National Police chief Jesus Verzosa, a businessman, and 19 retired and active police officers over the sale of second-hand R44s to the Philippine National Police. (see full story) see earlier HeliHub.com story – Controversy surrounds R44 acquisition by Philippine National Police
Australia – Helicopter pilot pleads guilty to crash charges
Source: ABC, 24-May-12
Darwin Magistrates Court has heard 41-year-old Mark Sullivan strapped a power generator filled with fuel into an empty passenger seat of the helicopter and failed to comply with a number of procedures outlined in an operations manual. (see full story)
Aviation expert witness service – an industry first
Source: InterNEWS, 07-May-12
A worldwide specialist aviation service for law firms that will facilitate immediate access to aviation experts was launched in Queenstown, New Zealand last month. Aviation legal professionals from around the globe are meeting in Queenstown for the 31st Annual Aviation Law Association of Australia and New Zealand (ALAANZ) conference which coincides with the launch of [...]
US Justice Dept settles with Air Methods
Source: US Dept of Justice, 16-Apr-12
The Justice Department has announced that it has resolved 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 [...]
Lawsuit filed for September 2011 fatal R44 accident in Michigan
Source: HeliHub.com, 11-Apr-12
The estate of a Michigan man killed in an R44 accident last September have filed a lawsuit claiming negligence contributed to the accident. Relatives of passenger Mark May initiated the claim, accusing the estate of the late pilot Dan Logghe of negligence, and that company Logghe Stamping Co – founded by Logghe’s grandfather Morris Logghe [...]
Eurocopter Group appoints new General Counsel
Source: Eurocopter, 09-Apr-12
Jean-Pascal Méo is appointed Eurocopter Group’s General Counsel as of 2nd April 2012. He will replace Georges Richelme, who has been elected as President of the Commercial Court of Marseilles. At Eurocopter he will now oversee the institutional relations of the Group. Having joined Eurocopter in January 1998, following roles as legal advisor in a [...]
US Coast Guard drops charges against co-pilot crash survivor
Source: US Coast Guard, 08-Mar-12
The 17th Coast Guard District commander, Rear Adm. Thomas P. Ostebo, dismissed criminal charges without prejudice against Lt. Lance Leone Tuesday, stemming from his role as co-pilot of Coast Guard helicopter CG-6017, which crashed on July 7, 2010. Leone, the sole survivor of the crash, was charged Sept. 30, 2011, with violating three punitive articles [...]
Lawsuit filed against two Louisiana State Police Pilot Supervisors
Source: WAFB, 07-Mar-12
A lawsuit filed Monday claims a pattern of retaliation and safety issues within the Louisiana State Police Department. A State Police pilot claims his supervisors ordered him to fly a helicopter after it was grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration, and that the Commander of all State Police took no disciplinary action. (see full story). [...]
Settlement reached in fatal Kittitas County R44 crash
Source: Yakima Herald, 04-Mar-12
A confidential settlement has been reached in the case of a helicopter crash in Kittitas County that killed four people and ignited a 485-acre forest fire. The settlement comes just days before jury selection in the lawsuit had been scheduled to start Monday in a King County Superior Court. (see full story) File photo
![Dawson[Lee] v Robinson Helicopter Co crash trial begins March 5](http://www.helihub.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/r44-white3-150x150.jpg)
Dawson[Lee] v Robinson Helicopter Co crash trial begins March 5
Source: Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman, 27-Feb-12
The trial of Dawson [Lee] v. Robinson Helicopter Company begins March 5, 2012 in Seattle, Washington over the death of Si Young Lee arising from the August 2, 2007 Robinson R44 II helicopter crash near Easton, Washington. According to court documents the helicopter experienced a low energy impact with the ground, whereupon it erupted in [...]
Trial date not yet set for $60M suit against PHI Air Medical
Source: N V Daily, 22-Feb-12
Eight months after the parents of two men who died in an aircraft crash in December 2010 filed suit against the pilot and owner of the AirCare 5 medical helicopter that their plane collided a trial date has not been set. (see full story) See also the HeliHub.com page for this accident – 31-Dec-10 N385PH [...]
Hummingbird Aviation owner convicted of contract fraud against USAF
Source: USAF, 09-Feb-12
After being investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations for suspected contract fraud, Mr. Charles R. Priestley, 48, pled guilty and was sentenced for making a false, fictitious and fraudulent claim to the United States Air Force. The United States District Court in East St. Louis, Mo., presided over the plea and sentenced [...]
Families of Columbian R66 victims hire Los Angeles attorneys
Source: Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman, 07-Feb-12
[ Editor: This press release refers to the faccident -12-Jul-11 N810AG Robinson R66 Girardot Airport, Colombia (2F) ] The aviation accident attorneys at Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman are representing the families of the two men killed in Robinson Helicopter Company’s first R66 crash which occurred on July 12, 2011 near Flandes, Colombia. Killed in [...]
Bell and Eurocopter decide to behave like children
Source: HeliHub.com, 31-Jan-12
In the last few hours, Bell and Eurocopter have issued press releases (reproduced below) claiming they have both won the same court case, which was about copyright infringement of skid design used on the early Bell 429 prototypes. It would appear that Bell changed the design as soon as Eurocopter first issued an injunction. Thus [...]
Families of 2 killed in R44 crash settle with Robinson
Source: Daily Breeze, 27-Jan-12
“All I can say is justice was done,” said Los Angeles-based lawyer Kevin Boyle, who represented the widow and family of Leo Straatman, a passenger in the R44 that went down in May 2006 near Desert Center, Calif. (see full story)
Bell and Vector Aerospace take each other to court
Source: HeliHub.com, 24-Jan-12
It sounds a bit like a couple of children playing – “you take me to court and I’ll take you to court in return”, but we’re sure that these two organisations are taking their legal stance very seriously. The current situations are:- In December, Vector took Bell to Alabama Middle Court (case ref 2:11-cv-01071) alleging [...]
Family of Florida B206 crash victim sues charter company
Source: News4Jax.com, 24-Jan-12
The family of one of the men killed when a helicopter chartered by Mayo Clinic crashed last month in Clay County is suing the operator of the aircraft. The children of 57-year-old David Hines are suing SK Logistics for wrongful death. They’re also suing Abraham Holdings, the company that owned the helicopter. (see full story)
Civil liberties group sues FAA over drone surveillance
Source: HAI, 13-Jan-12
The Hill reported Jan. 11 that the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has filed a suit in Northern California’s U.S. District Court to force the FAA to release data about what groups have been given permission to fly higher than the FAA normally permits. Once drones enter controlled airspace (500 feet and above) they are required to have [...]
North Australian Helicopters owner trying to block CASA safety investigation
Source: The Australian, 12-Jan-12
Milton Jones is going to the High Court to block air safety investigators from viewing uncut footage allegedly showing him piloting a helicopter after drinking alcohol, leaving children at an aircraft’s controls and unlawfully taking crocodile eggs from their nests. (see full story)
Bell in legal dispute with EA over Battlefield 3
Source: Joystiq, 11-Jan-12
Bell’s parent company Textron has hit EA with a trademark dispute over the company’s use of three different helicopter designs in Battlefield 3 without permission. In return, EA struck with a pre-emptive lawsuit against Textron claiming that the use of the helicopters is protected under the “First Amendment and the doctrine of nominative fair use.” (see [...]
Second lawsuit filed in Las Vegas tour helicopter crash
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal, 30-Dec-11
A second wrongful death lawsuit was filed Thursday in a Nevada court against the Las Vegas-based operator of a sightseeing tour helicopter that crashed and killed five people earlier this month (see full story)
Lawsuit filed in fatal Sundance crash by Kansas City attorney
Source: Kansas City Star, 15-Dec-11
The first wrongful death lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Nevada on behalf of the families of a honeymooning couple from India killed in a Las Vegas sightseeing helicopter crash that also took the lives of the pilot and a Kansas couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. (see full story)
Judge: Sikorsky does not owe damages to PHi
14-Dec-11
A federal magistrate has refused to order Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. to pay damages to another company for allegedly hiding an internal report about a fatal accident in January 2009 (see full story) See also HeliHub.com page for this accident – 04-Jan-09 N748P Sikorsky S76C++ Gulf of Mexico, US-Gulf of Mexico (8F)
Fatal California powerline accident leads to $10M jury award
11-Dec-11
In November 2009, a Piasecki helicopter struck high tension wires shortly after departing from Adelanto airport as it headed for an airshow in Riverside, California. The helicopter crashed and burned, and all three aboard were killed. (see full story) See also HeliHub.com accident page – 07-Nov-09 N183YP Piasecki PV-18 Adelanto, US-California (3F)
Employee stole more than $130,000 from Back Country Helicopters
Source: Otago Daily Times, 29-Nov-11
44-year-old mother of three admitted misappropriating more than $130,000 from her employer over seven years (see full story)
Gates & Partners’ launches seminar initiatives for the aviation industry
Source: Gates & Partners, 29-Nov-11
The UK headquarters of leading international lawyers Gates & Partners, which focuses specifically on aviation law, has this month launched a new set of initiatives to support the industry’s understanding of complex legal and regulatory issues within the aviation sector. The latest event was held in early November and aimed to bring banks and insurance [...]
Cougar settles lawsuit against Sikorsky
Source: CBC, 28-Nov-11
Representatives for both companies wouldn’t give details of the settlement. Cougar’s statement of claim said it was looking for more than $20 million for negligence and fraudulent misrepresentation after the crash (see full story)
NZ pilot fined for flying too low
Source: Radio NZ, 17-Nov-11
The Civil Aviation Authority says the pilot was fined $1000 and ordered to pay $130 in court costs after he took several players and caddies on free low-level flights over the Pegasus golf course. (full story)
Firing of Bell executive was legal, judge rules
Source: Star-Telegram, 12-Nov-11
Judge ruled that Michael Prieto and his lawyer Hal Gillespie failed to prove that he was fired for investigating whether Bell was overcharging the U.S. government on military contracts. (See full story)
UK: Berg blows Longmint Aviation out of the sky
Source: Berg, 11-Nov-11
Commercial law firm Berg has been instrumental in securing the downfall of Longmint Aviation Limited, part of the Longmint Group which together with the Erinaceous Group plc, acquired the various engineering and aviation companies at Fairoaks Airport in July 2007. Berg has secured a string of victories in order to recover sums due, and occupation [...]
City to pay $245K in police whistle-blower case
Source: Baltimore Sun, 27-Oct-11
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)
Amateur-build buyer suspended for registration and airworthiness violations
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-Oct-11
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 [...]
Crash victim’s husband sues Air Methods
Source: HeliHub.com, 05-Sep-11
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 [...]
Did helicopter pilot lie in drowning case?
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-Sep-11
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 [...]
Helicopter pilot accused of attempted murder
Source: South African Police Service, 31-Aug-11
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, [...]
