|
January 19, 2012
Two Men Killed in Fiery Robinson Helicopter Crash
A Robinson R44 helicopter crashed in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana on Thursday morning, killing the two men on board. According to authorities, the helicopter took off from the Houma-Terrebonne Airport about an hour before it crashed near Belle Isle. The helicopter, owned by Cenac Marine Services LLC, erupted into flames after crashing into a marshy area, authorities said. Killed in the crash were Cenac employee Lanny Ledet, 43, and experienced helicopter pilot Jason McKean, 40. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have sent investigators to the crash site. It is still unclear what caused the Robinson helicopter to crash. According to the NTSB, This is the eleventh fatal Robinson R44 helicopter crash in the past 12 months.
The aviation attorneys at Baum, Hedlund, Aristei & Goldman have represented more than 575 victims in a wide variety of accidents, including many helicopter crashes. Our team has handled several crashes involving Robinson Helicopters, including three accidents involving the R44 model. Baum Hedlund is currently representing the families of men killed in Robinson R44 helicopters that crashed in Washington state and Arkansas, as well as the first crash of the newly designed Robinson R66 turbine helicopter that occurred in Colombia, South America.
December 29, 2011
Another Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed in Fatal Las Vegas Tour Helicopter Crash
The family of Delwin and Tamara Chapman filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Thursday stemming from a fatal tour helicopter crash that occurred outside Las Vegas, Nevada on December 7. The helicopter, operated by Las Vegas company Sundance Helicopters, Inc., crashed in a remote area near Lake Mead, killing Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, the chopper pilot and a newlywed couple from India. The families of the couple from India filed a wrongful death lawsuit a week after the crash. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) radar data showed that the Aerospatiale AS350-B2 helicopter spun out of control in the moments leading up to the crash. The chopper underwent some routine maintenance work the day before the fatal accident, including the installation of a replacement engine and some mechanical parts in the tail and rotor. At this time, NTSB officials have not reported on what caused the helicopter to go down. A final report on the crash could take upwards of a year to complete.
December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve Plane Crash Leaves Three Dead in Ohio
A single engine plane crashed during what appeared to be a landing attempt at Vinton County Airport in Ohio on Saturday afternoon, killing all three people aboard. The fatal plane crash occurred at 2 p.m. as the plane approached the airport. Authorities say the plane ended up along Airport Road, which runs parallel to the airport rather than the runway. Two female passengers were declared dead on the scene. The plane's pilot, a 54-year-old man from Baltimore, was taken to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries. Investigators are currently looking into what caused the small plane to go down. The Federal Aviation Administration is heading the investigation along with the Ohio Highway Patrol.
December 19, 2011
Five Killed in Central Texas Small Plane Crash
A single engine plane crashed in central Texas killing all five people aboard. Authorities say the Piper Saratoga aircraft went down in a Brazos County field at around 10 p.m. Monday night in the midst of stormy weather. The plane was bound for Waco, Texas after taking off from Atlanta, Georgia. The 33-year-old pilot, along with his wife and two children were killed in the fatal crash. The pilot's brother, a 37-year-old man from Mount Clam, Texas was also killed. At this time, authorities are uncertain what caused the single engine plane to go down. An investigation into Monday night's crash is ongoing.
December 9, 2011
Small Plane Crash in Oklahoma Claims Two Lives
A Piper PA-28 airplane crashed Friday night near Chickasha, Oklahoma, killing both men onboard. The fatal crash occurred roughly 40 miles from Oklahoma City at around 8:45 p.m. Authorities aren't certain where pilot Rocky Joe Beller and passenger Calvin Scott Beller took off from or where they were heading in the small airplane. The Piper aircraft was owned by the pilot, Mr. Beller and Oklahoma construction company B&H Construction LLC. A relative told investigators that Mr. Beller had only recently received his pilot's license over the summer. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the Oklahoma small plane crash.
December 3, 2011
Two Dead After Small Plane Crashes in Upper Peninsula, Michigan
A chartered plane crashed in a heavily wooded area of northern Michigan on Saturday night, killing the only two men onboard. Authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) arrived at the scene of the wreckage on Monday to begin their investigation into the cause of the fatal crash. The two men took off shortly before 8 p.m. from an airfield in St. Ignace bound for Mackinac Island in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The flight, which normally takes about six minutes, came to the attention of search and rescue authorities a couple of hours after it took off. No distress call was reported. Investigators at this point are uncertain what caused the single engine Piper PA-32-260 aircraft to go down. The investigation is ongoing.
November 18, 2011
One Dead in California Single Engine Plane Crash
The pilot of a small plane was killed Friday afternoon after crashing at the Pomona Fairplex in California. Authorities say the unidentified pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. The single engine plane, a Mooney M20M registered to a law firm in Pasadena, was on its way to Brackett Field in La Verne, California, when the fatal crash occurred. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have yet to determine what caused the small plane to go down. An investigation into Friday's fatal plane crash is ongoing.
October 26, 2011
Boeing's Carbon-Composite Dreamliner Airplane is a "Game Changer"
Boeing's new carbon-composite Dreamliner airplane carried passengers for the first time on a flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. The plane, owned by Japanese airline All Nippon Airways, successfully completed its first flight with 240 passengers onboard. This marks a new benchmark in aviation technology, as the carbon-composite Dreamliner improves fuel efficiency by 20 percent and reduces plane maintenance costs by 30 percent. The new airplane also improves the passenger experience in the cabin. Ambient lighting is designed to make passengers feel more at ease, and higher air pressure makes the cabin feel like 6,000 feet instead of 8,000 feet, as it is on other airplanes.
October 11, 2011
Passenger Sues Continental Airlines Over Two Hours of Turbulance
A woman who claims to have sustained mental trauma during a heavily turbulent flight from College Station, Texas to Houston, Texas is suing Continental Airlines. The October 2009 flight, which normally only takes 20 minutes, ended up taking over two hours as thunderstorms and tornadoes swept through the area. Five to 10 minutes after takeoff, the plane hit turbulence that lasted for two hours "and fell repeatedly, and felt as if it had lost power and was falling from the sky," the lawsuit says. The passenger maintains that she thought she was going to die and suffered post-traumatic stress after the ordeal. The traumatic experience caused her to not take a job that required air travel. Continental Airlines and its new partner United Airlines, as well as Colgan and Pinnacle Airlines are named in the lawsuit. The plaintiff in the suit is seeking damages for medical bills as well as physical and mental anguish.
October 6, 2011
Missing Plane Found, Three Dead
Three people were found dead on Thursday in the wreckage of a small plane that had gone missing the previous Sunday. The grisly discovery was made in a mountainous region of West Virginia by Civil Air Patrol. The downed Piper PA-32 Saratoga plane was headed to Johnstown, Pennsylvania when it disappeared from radar about 12 miles from Grant County on Sunday night. An extensive search involving numerous Civil Air Patrol planes, police helicopters and ground searches came to an end on Thursday evening. The three people on board, two men and a woman, were confirmed dead on Friday. It is still unclear what caused the small plane to crash.
September 4, 2011
KETV Channel 7 Omaha:Two Killed in Single Engine Plane Crash Near Seward, Nebraska
A single engine plane crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in Seward, Nebraska on Sunday morning, killing two men on the aircraft. Authorities are looking for clues as to what caused the small plane to crash in a cornfield north of Fletcher Road. The pilot was a 56-year old flight instructor from Lincoln, Nebraska. The other man killed in the crash, a 56-year-old man from Plymouth, Nebraska was the owner of the newly purchased plane. An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) ruled out a fuel shortage as a cause of the fatal crash. He also said a flight control system in the cockpit was functioning properly. Authorities from both NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the cause of the fatal plane crash.
September 9, 2011
The Herald: FAA Proposes $590,000 Fine Against Alaska Airlines for Cockpit Fire
Alaska Airlines is facing a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) fine of $590,000 for operating a Boeing 737 with a defect that led to a cockpit fire last January. The cockpit fire occurred when the Boeing 737 was at a gate at Anchorage International Airport in Alaska. According to the FAA, a poorly installed hose clamp caused some wiring to chafe, which led to the cockpit fire. Alaska Airlines found the same issue with nine other planes in their fleet, though the January incident last year was the only cockpit fire. The airline fixed the nine defected aircraft.
August 24, 2011
American Airlines Pilot and Passenger Injured in Jet Way Collapse
The pilot of American Airlines flight 557 and a passenger were injured Wednesday evening at Los Angeles International (LAX) Airport when the passenger platform collapsed as both were exiting the aircraft. Both ended up falling roughly ten feet down to the pavement from passenger loading bridge, which is the ramp connecting the plane to the terminal. The pilot and the passenger were both taken to Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in fair condition with ankle, back and neck injuries. A spokeswoman for American Airlines said the passenger was later released from the hospital. She was uncertain about the status of the pilot. Flight 557 originated in Boston with a stopover in Chicago. There were 107 passengers on the plane. Authorities are currently investigating what caused the passenger loading bridge to fail.
July 23, 2011
Lake Elsinore Wildomar Patch: Fiery Plane Crash Near Lake Elsinore, California, Kills Two
Two men are confirmed dead after a small plane crashed near Lake Elsinore, California, on Saturday morning. The two men were the only passengers on the downed plane. The single engine Taylorcraft BC-12D was completely destroyed upon impact just outside the Cleveland National Forest. The deadly crash caused a fire that completely scorched the plane, making the tail number of the aircraft unreadable to investigators. The blaze from the crash consumed more than an acre of hillside before it was finally extinguished by firefighters. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is heading the investigation into the cause of the fatal plane crash.
June 18, 2011
CBS New York: Small Plane Crash in New York Kills Four
A Cessna 210 small plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Westchester County Airport in New York on Saturday, killing all four people onboard. The pilot, as well as his wife, daughter and a family friend died at the scene of the crash. Authorities say the pilot of the downed plane radioed air traffic controllers to say he was experiencing technical problems and returning to the airport. The plane then crashed and burst into flames just short of the runway.
The pilot's father told news outlets that his son was a meticulous pilot, and he believed something must have been wrong with the plane. The Cessna 210 was registered to Panorama Flight Service, a company that specializes in flight training, aircraft rental and services. The pilot of the downed plane was a "longtime customer," according to Panorama Flight Service president Gene Condreras. Authorities from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently conducting an investigation into the cause of the fatal plane crash.
May 25, 2011
Forbes: Twin Engine Plane Crash Causes Multiple Deaths In North Carolina
A twin engine plane heading to Kentucky from a suburban Atlanta airport crashed into a mountainous area near Unaka, North Carolina on Wednesday, killing an unspecified amount of people on board. Cherokee County Sheriff Keith Lovin told a local newspaper there were "multiple fatalities" in the crash, but did not give a specific number of fatalities. The twin engine Beech Baron 58 airplane went down around 4:15 p.m. in a mountainous area only accessible on foot or all-terrain vehicle. The plane is registered to Aero Resources Corp. of Hazard. Authorities from the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the fatal plane crash.
May 13, 2011
GoErie.com:
Two Injured In Small Plane Crash In Warren County
A man and a woman were injured on Friday when their single engine plane crashed during a landing attempt at their residence in Warren County, Pennsylvania. The crash occurred just before 5:00 p.m. at a private residence near Route 62, which has a runway that also functions as the property's driveway. Witnesses say the plane clipped a tree and nose-dived into an embankment near the runway. The man and the woman, who were the only passengers on the single engine plane, were able to get out of the wreckage before emergency crews arrived on scene. The two were taken to a nearby hospital and at this time their identities and condition are unknown. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the plane crash.
April 26, 2011
The Examiner: Southwest Flight 1919 Skids Off Runway in Chicago
A Southwest Airlines flight from Denver skidded off the runway shortly after landing at Chicago's Midway Airport on Tuesday afternoon. No injuries were reported as passengers were taken off the jet and escorted into buses before finally reaching the terminal. The Boeing 737-700 came to a stop in a grassy area next to the airport's perimeter and a mere 150 feet away from a busy road. Heavy rain was falling at the time of the incident. Southwest has a history of overshooting runways at Chicago's Midway Airport.
In 2005, a Boeing 737 operated by Southwest Airlines rolled off the runway and onto an adjacent street where it hit a car before coming to a stop. A six-year-old boy traveling in the car was killed. Baum Hedlund represented several passengers from that incident. The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the cause of Tuesday's runway incident.
April 4, 2011
National Public Radio: Huge Tear in Fuselage Causes Southwest Airlines Plane
to Make Emergency Landing
 A Southwest Airlines flight carrying 118 people was forced to make an emergency landing on Friday after a sudden rupture in the fuselage caused the aircraft to lose cabin pressure. There were no serious injuries. The Boeing 737-300 had taken off from Phoenix, Arizona, when a 5-foot-long hole burst open in the fuselage. Pilots were able to land the aircraft in Yuma, Arizona, where federal authorities inspected the damage. Inspectors concluded that pre-existing cracking in the fuselage caused the tear. Authorities have since found similar cracks on two other Southwest Airlines planes.
The incident prompted Southwest to ground about 80 planes, canceling about 300 flights on Sunday. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident and will work together to determine what actions may be necessary after the investigation.
Baum Hedlund has been retained in this incident.
Read More: What causes the metal skin on an airliner to tear apart?
February 10, 2011
NTSB: National Transportation Safety Board Establishes Twitter and YouTube Accounts
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Thursday that it has entered the world of social media by establishing a Twitter account and a YouTube channel. "Transparency and open government are key components of NTSB's agenda to improve transportation safety," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "Social media is yet another opportunity for us to engage with our most important stakeholders - the traveling public.” Both the Twitter account and the YouTube channel will communicate NTSB advocacy programs and transportation safety initiatives, along with other invaluable resources for travelers.
February 2, 2011
Orlando Sentinel: Two Dead in Plane Crash Outside Kissimmee, Florida
A plane crashed outside of Kissimmee Gateway Airport in Florida on Wednesday evening, killing the only two people on board. The small plane did not make a distress call, leaving more questions than answers as to what caused the crash. The 1963 Fouga CM-170 Magister plane took off at 5:21 P.M. and crashed a mere twelve minutes later approaching the airport to land. Officials wouldn't speculate the purpose of the short flight. The federal investigation into the cause of the crash could take upwards of a year.
December 5, 2010
CNN: Pilot Critically Injured After Small Plane Crashes Into Utah Neighborhood
A small place crashed into a residential neighborhood in Utah on Sunday, critically injuring the pilot and setting two homes on fire. The single-engine Cessna 210 plane broke apart as it dove into a Roy, Utah, neighborhood near the Ogden Airport, authorities say. Two occupied homes erupted in flames after the crash and power was knocked out in 1,700 area homes. No one inside the homes was hurt. The pilot survived the crash with critical injuries and is being treated at an area hospital. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash.
October 25, 2010
Santa Cruz Sentinel:
Washington Small Plane Crash Claims Three Lives
The three people on board a light plane that crashed in southwest Washington were killed on Monday. Authorities found the wreckage of the twin-engine Cessna in a remote rugged area about 10 miles northeast of Morton. The plane had been missing since early Monday after it disappeared from radar as it left Chehalis for Lewiston, Idaho. The light plane was registered to Chehalis-based eye surgery company Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute. On board were two employees and a veteran pilot. The National Transportation Safety Board, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, has launched a federal investigation into the fatal plane crash.
August 21, 2010
USA Today: Small Plane Carrying Four People Still Missing in Alaska
A small plane carrying four people, including two brothers, disappeared in southwest Alaska on Saturday. A search and rescue mission is now underway for the Dehavilland Beaver and its four occupants, a pilot and three national park workers. The plane had left Swikshak Lagoon in Katmai National Park before it disappeared in bad weather. According to authorities, there has been no emergency transmissions or radio communications from the plane.
June 30, 2010
Des Moines Register: Search Still on for Missing Plane, Four People On Board Feared Dead
A plane with four people on board disappeared over Montana on Sunday. Authorities say the light aircraft disappeared during a sightseeing tour. The four people on board, including two young reporters, are have been reported missing. On Tuesday, searchers were still looking for the plane. The suspected crash is under investigation.
April 6, 2010
Columbus Dispatch: $89 Million Awarded in 1999 Ohio Fatal Plane Crash
A jury has awarded $25 million in compensatory damages and $64 million in punitive damages to the lone survivor and the families of the four victims killed in a 1999 plane crash in Ohio. The $89 million award was handed down by the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court jury on Tuesday. The surviving families along with the sole survivor of the plane crash sued Lycoming Engines for concealing a carburetor problem which led to the fatal crash. According to an attorney for Lycoming Engines, the company plans to appeal the ruling since the National Transportation Safety Board found that the engine was not at fault for the fatal crash.
March 21, 2010
WKBW: Senate Passes FAA Air Safety Bill
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill has been passed by the U.S. Senate. The FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act was passed on Monday and will address safety gaps and enact several safety regulations in regional airline travel.
Included in the bill is the Flight 3407 Memorial Act, which mandates the FAA report back to Congress on all safety recommendations issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Also included in the new legislation is increased training hours for commercial pilots and a proposal that raises the minimum requirements for the hiring of commercial pilots from 250 hours to 800 hours of flight time.
The passing of this bill has been credited to the steadfast lobbying of the surviving family members of those killed when Flight 3407 crashed in Clarence Center, New York in February 2009. Senator Charles E. Schumer said in a statement, “Make no mistake about it, because of tonight’s actions and the year of work before it, people will be safer when they fly, and it is due to one factor – the strength, fortitude, and focus of the 3407 Families.”
February 22, 2010
CNN: 2009 Boasts Second Lowest Yearly Rate for Air Accidents According to New Report
According to a new report by the International Air Transport Association, 2009's accident rate for Western-built jet aircraft is the second lowest in modern aviation history with one accident in every 1.4 million flights. The data collected by the group, which has been conducting this study since 1964, also found that pilot handling was a contributing factor in 30 percent of accidents and runway mishaps accounted for 26 percent of the accidents. The report found that 2009 is only second to 2006 for the safest year in aviation, adding that the odds found are illustrated best in the following scenario: If a person were to take a flight every day, they could go 3,259 years without experiencing an air disaster.
February 10, 2010
Fox News: American Airlines Probe Could Result in Largest Fine in FAA History
The Associated press is reporting that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) might soon end a two-year investigation into American Airlines and could potentially slap the airline with one of the largest fines in FAA history. American Airlines has been under investigation since improperly secured wiring in 290 MD-80s caused a potential fire threat. Hundred of planes were temporarily grounded because of the safety violation. According to government and industry officials, the FAA’s investigation into American Airline’s safety violations could result in the largest fine proposed by the FAA. The fine is expected to exceed the $10.2 million fine the agency gave Southwest Airlines in 2008. The FAA insists the investigation is still ongoing and called the fine estimate premature.
February 2, 2010
NTSB: NTSB Releases Final Report on Cause of Colgan Air Flight 3407 Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its final report on the February 2, 2009 crash of Continental Connection Flight 3407. Around this time last year, a Bombardier DHC-8-400 operating by Colgan Air, crashed into a home in Clarence Center, New York. All 49 people aboard were killed as was one person on the ground. The NTSB report blames the fatal crash on the Captain’s inappropriate response to the activation of the stick shaker which caused the plane to stall.
During their investigation of the crash, the NTSB determined that as flight 3407 flew over Clarence Center the stick shaker activated to warn the pilots of an impending aerodynamic stall. The captain then pulled aft on the control column when he should have pushed forward, which caused the aircraft to stall and plummet to the ground. According to the Board’s report, the flight crew’s failure to recognize low speed cues on their flight display contributed to the crash. Also at fault was Colgan Air’s inadequate airspeed selection and management procedures in icing conditions.
The NTSB has issued recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the future prevention of similar crashes including strategies to prevent pilot fatigue and crew monitoring failures. The NTSB also recommended improved remedial training, stall training, pilot records and airspeed selection procedures. In addition, the Board addressed FAA oversight and use of safety alerts. The NTSB is expected to hold a public forum this Spring to further explore the issues encountered during the investigation of flight 3407's fatal crash.
January 23, 2010
Chicago Tribune: Plane Crashes into Home in Indiana, Killing Both Men on Board
A twin engine plane headed for Denver crashed in Sugar Grove, Illinois on Saturday, killing the two men on board. The Piper Aerostar 601P crashed into a home near Illinois Highway 47 at around 7 p.m., killing two Florida men who were traveling on business. Debris from the accident hit another home causing a car in a garage to catch on fire. No one on the ground or inside the home was hurt. The cause of the crash is unknown.
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007
|
