Aviation / Helicopter Crashes

Helicopter crash landing due to
tail rotor spider bearing failure,
lumbar back fusion
Large settlement

Plaintiff was a passenger in a helicopter which crash-landed in Patterson, Louisiana after having lost tail rotor control.  The NTSB and other experts examined the aircraft which was totally destroyed and found that the tail rotor spider bearing failed and was currently under an FAA Airworthiness Directive in connection with specialized maintenance and periodic testing of the bearing due to previous complaints of failure.

Plaintiff originally filed suit against the helicopter operator and Eurocopter, Inc., (Marseilles, France).  Toward the end of discovery deadlines, plaintiff and the operator settled. Thereafter, plaintiff and the operator filed suit against the bearing manufacturer,  La  Réunion Aérienne (Turin, Italy).  Shortly before trial, and during depositions in Turin, Italy, La  Réunion Aérienne furnished documents that were never produced by the defendant, Eurocopter, Inc.  These documents showed that the defendant, La  Réunion Aérienne had previously advised Eurocopter, Inc. that the tail rotor spider bearing utilized by Eurocopter, Inc. was a "shelf" bearing and that its continued use in Helicopters posed " . . . a concrete risk of failure". Due to the failure of Eurocopter to provide complete disclosure and documentation, plaintiff and operator filed a motion to strike the witnesses and defendants of Eurocopter, Inc.  The trial Judge struck all expert witnesses scheduled to testify on behalf of Eurocopter, Inc.   Shortly thereafter, a confidential settlement was completed with all defendants.

Randy Comeaux v. Tex-Air Helicopters, Inc., et al.   
No. CV00-1339-LO, U. S. District Court,W. D. of La