Robinson Helicopter Company Recent Lawsuits and Settlements

Robinson Helicopter Co. is headquartered in Torrance, California. Founded in 1973, the company remains a leading manufacturer of helicopters, including the R66, R44, and R22 models. The company takes pride in performing every aspect of helicopter production (designing, manufacturing, assembling, inspecting, flight testing, etc.). Over the years, however, there has been concerns about alleged malfunction of critical components in these helicopters, such as issues with the rotor systems which could lead to catastrophic incidents. The company has also faced safety concerns from aviation agencies as well as multiple lawsuits.

Recent lawsuits against the helicopter company include the following:

• 2019 crash in Pennsylvania: this crash involved a Robinson R44 helicopter. Reportedly, the incident occurred after the helicopter experienced a sudden breakup during a normal flight, which had catastrophic results. The breakup was attributed to design flaws. The incident resulted in the death of the pilot.
• 2021 crash in New Zealand: the helicopter crashed during a wedding photoshoot, injuring the newly wedded couple and the photographer. Victims filed a lawsuit against the company alleging both design defects and negligence.

• Wells et al. v. Robinson Helicopter Co. (2009): a crash involving a R44 helicopter killed one FAA inspector and severely injured another inspector. Plaintiffs alleged that the crash occurred due to a known defect known as “mast rocking.” The court allowed the case to proceed. The case highlighted the importance of addressing known design hazards.
• Doe v. Robinson Helicopter Co. (2017): this California case alleged that rotor blade delamination mid-flight caused the crash. There was an initial demand of $10 million, although the lawsuit ultimately settled confidentially.
• Williams v. Robinson Helicopter Co. (2020): this Nevada case involved a maintenance dispute, specifically over the intervals of rotor blade replacement. The lawsuit settled for $3.5 million.
• Estate of Gonzalez v. Robinson Helicopter Co. (2021): an R44 helicopter experienced rotor mast failure during a training flight. The case went to trial, where a jury awarded a $16.2 million verdict. This amount included $4 million in punitive damages.

Lawsuits against the helicopter manufacturer often have allegations in common. For example, many lawsuits allege that Robinson Helicopter Company aircrafts have inherent design flaws, including susceptibility to rotor blade issues and mast bumping, which can lead to catastrophic failures. Other frequent allegations include the failure to warn; that is, plaintiffs often claim that the company failed to adequately warn users about known risks associated with their aircrafts.

The lawsuits discussed above have played a role in the increased scrutiny of helicopter safety standards as well as manufacturing practices. These lawsuits have also influenced regulatory bodies, like the FAA, to enforce stricter compliance measures, which ultimately ensure safety for both pilots and passengers.

Past lawsuits, specifically, set precedent through the following:

• Demonstrating litigation risk for the defendant
• Serving as bargaining tools in future negotiations
• Provide evidence that certain claims can lead to financial liability
• Reinforcing strict liability
• Opening the door for comparative fault arguments
• And more

Yes, you could have the right to file a lawsuit. If you sustained injuries or a member of your family died in a helicopter crash caused by a malfunction related to a product defect, you could have the right to file a lawsuit. In addition to having grounds to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer, Robinson Helicopter Co., you could also have grounds to file a lawsuit against the owner of the helicopter, the operator of the helicopter, the pilot, the touring company, the maintenance company, and more – of course, this will based on the specific details surrounding the incident.

To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of your right to file a lawsuit, please do not hesitate to reach out to the experts here at our law firm as soon as possible.

Aviation accidents are among the most devastating types of accidents that anyone could experience. The experts here at our law firm have decades of experience and are more than ready to provide you with the guidance that you need to fight for your rights and get justice. Whether you are looking to begin or continue your claim, you can be certain that our experts are ready to take on Robinson Helicopter Co. or any other negligent party/entity accountable for the harm suffered.

Free Case Reviews: we are committed to remaining as accessible as possible to victims and their families, so we offer free case evaluations. These include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our experts will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns. That is, our helicopter crash lawsuit lawyers will provide you with all the information that you may need to begin or continue your claim. To schedule a free case review, contact us today.

Zero-Fee Guarantee: you will never have to worry about paying any upfront legal costs for any of our legal services. In addition, our law firm works on a strict contingency structure, meaning that you will not be required to pay anything at all if your lawsuit is not successful. If you do not win, you simply will not be responsible for paying anything.

Contact us today to learn more about the legal options available to you.

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