This photo, taken moments before the crash, shows that the P-51 had lost its left elevator trim tab. (I’ve circled the spot where the trim tab should be.) Without the trim tab, the aircraft may have been uncontrollable.
FAA Declines To Close LSA Loophole
Operators have begun using LSAs — particularly "trikes" — to give air tours over the Hawaiian islands. LSAs fly low and slow, just like helicopters, and are much cheaper to run. But they have a terrible safety record. And it’s illegal to use LSAs for commercial tours.
If it is illegal to use LSAs for commercial
Legal System Treats Passengers Differently From Crew
When an EMS helicopter goes down, our legal system treats the family members of the
passengers lost in the accident quite a bit differently from the families of the crew. For example, while the family members of the passenger may perhaps get their day in court, the claims of the crew members’ families are usually precluded
When A Helicopter Hits An Offshore Oil Platform And Then Crashes Into The Ocean
A helicopter carrying workers to an oil rig attempts to land on the rig’s platform. The helicopter hits something on the rig, spins out of control, and crashes into the sea. All the helicopter’s occupants are killed.
Sadly, with more than 5000 oil rigs operating off the US shores, oil rig-related helicopter crashes are
Airline’s Liability for Injuries Caused by Falling Baggage
It’s the passenger in the aisle seat who is most often injured by baggage falling from an overhead bin. The injuries can be serious and can include mild traumatic brain injury.
If the baggage falls and injures a passenger who is travelling internationally, then the Montreal Convention or Warsaw Conventions apply. The conventions are
Government Contractor Defense Protects Helicopter Manufacturer
The Chinook helicopter was flying in Afghanistan. Without warning, one of the helicopter’s two engines flamed out. The helicopter crashed. Eight service personnel were killed and fourteen were severely injured.
The victims and their families sued the helicopter’s various manufacturers, including Boeing, Honeywell and Goodrich. They claimed that the helicopter’s engine qu
it because of a defect in
The “Impossible Turn” and Three Mooney Crashes in Two Weeks
Three Mooneys have crashed in two weeks. Each aircraft crashed on takeoff. Sadly, seven people were killed. Two of the accidents may have involved the "impossible turn."
First Crash: On July 5, a 1974 Mooney M20F (N7759M) crashed shortly after taking off from Watsonville, California. All four aboard were killed.
Second Crash
Pilatus Crash at Butte: Reader Beats NTSB By Eight Months
Initially, the NTSB thought it might never determine the cause of the Pilatus crash at Butte, reporting to the press that it had no working theories. But this week, the NTSB concluded that the 2009 crash was caused by icing in the aircraft’s fuel system. According to the NTSB, the pilot failed to add an ice inhibitor
Prokop v. Cirrus Heads to Minnesota Supreme Court
A pilot crashed his new Cirrus, killing himself and his passenger. According to the families, Cirrus didn’t train the pilot on the use of the plane’s autopilot when he showed up at the factory to pick up his new aircraft, and that contributed to the crash. The details are here.
The jury agreed with the
Helicopter Crash Lawyers Bribe Judge, Settle Case, Get Sued
EMS helicopter crash cases aren’t easy. A lawyer representing a victim’s family ought to have experience in helicopter crash cases. If he doesn’t, he should bring into the case a lawyer who does. What he should not do, obviously, is make up for lack of experience by bribing the judge.
It’s shocking to think that a lawyer