Pilots’ next of kin no longer seek damages from Copterline

New defendant is manufacturer of failed rotor servo’s piston plasma coating

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The next of kin of the pilots of the Copterline helicopter that plunged into the sea outside the Estonian capital Tallinn in August 2005, killing all 14 on board, have made changes to their statement of claims to the US court handling the case.
      In the original statement the pilots’ next of kin sought massive damages from the destroyed S-76 helicopter’s manufacturer Sikorsky, its rotor servo’s manufacturer Textron, the dealer of the allegedly faulty part HIS, and Copterline itself.
     
The airline was claimed to be partly responsible for the accident. On crashing into the water the helicopter’s emergency floats failed to deploy and the aircraft sank quickly. The post mortem confirmed that all 14 aboard died from drowning.
      In the new deposition there is no longer mention of Copterline. Instead, a Californian firm called Plasma Technology is listed as the fourth defendant. The company provided the plasma coating covering the two servo pistons of the destroyed aircraft.
      The statement of claims by the pilots’ widows Ulla Fredriksson and Marjatta Peurala, insists that the pistons’ plasma coating came loose and blocked the servo’s return valves thus leading the helicopter to lose its steerability.
      The original accident investigation committee reached the same conclusion with regard to the primary reason for the accident in its initial accident report. On the same basis Copterline is also seeking damages of at least 60 million US dollars (EUR 45.8 million) in the same New York Eastern District Court against Sikorsky, Textron, and HSI.
      Sikorsky has vehemently denied the explanation. On the other hand, the company has thus far failed to produce a credible alternative for the cause of the crash.
     
Copterline filed its lawsuit already last year. So far only letters have been exchanged in the legal process.
      In the last one of such letters, Copterline names its possible witnesses to be called in the coming trial. In addition to the company’s own staff, the list includes Tõnu Ader, an Estonian member of the accident investigation committee, and Lorenda Ward, from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
      Neither one of them is likely to be eager to stand witness before the final accident investigation report has been made public later this summer.
      In their original deposition, the next of kin of the pilots sought joint damages of 20 million US dollars from Sikorsky, HIS, Textron, and Copterline, and another 40 million US dollars from the three American firms.
      Such a breakdown of compensation has been left out from the new statement of claims. Instead, the breakdown is suggested to be determined during the cause of the court proceedings.
      Both Copterline and the next of kin of the pilots insist on a jury trial.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  COMMENTARY: When money comes before aviation safety (6.3.2007)
  Sikorsky rejects claims of technical cause for Copterline crash (3.1.2007)
  Copterline seeks massive damages in US court from Sikorsky (2.1.2007)

Links:
  10 August 2005 helicopter crash near Tallinn (Wikipedia)
  Fatal August 2005 Copterline S-76C+ crash controversy deepens as Sikorsky rejects NTSB verdict of main rotor servo failure (Flight International)

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