Monday, January 26, 2009

Companies Sued Following Naval Accident

Seven companies are being sued by relatives of three sailors who died when a helicopter crashed off the San Diego coast during a Navy training mission. The companies manufactured and sold the aircraft and its parts.

The lawsuit alleges that several parts of the MH-60S helicopter were defective and caused the crash in January 2007, which killed four people in all.

Named in the lawsuit are the helicopter's manufacturer, Sikorsky Aircraft, and other companies that manufactured components for the aircraft: Alcoa, Pacific Scientific, Hi-Shear Corp., Parker-Hannifin Corp. and General Electric.

The helicopter departed for the training exercise Jan. 26, 2007, from the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard, some 50 miles from shore.

The victims were Lt. j.g. Laura J. Mankey of West Hills; Lt. Adam Dyer, 28, of Lafayette, La.; Petty Officer 1st Class Cory Helman, 27, of New Richmond, Wis.; and Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Will, 29, of Warren, Mich. They were members of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 assigned to the North Island Naval Air Station.

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