An investigation into a tragic helicopter crash in 2022 that claimed the lives of a pilot and a meteorologist has uncovered critical maintenance errors that led to the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its final report on the crash, citing disconnected and missing hardware as the probable cause.
The crash occurred during a training flight over a Charlotte-area interstate, where the helicopter lost control and crashed into a grassy area next to the highway. The NTSB report highlighted inadequate inspections by the pilot and maintenance personnel, resulting in the loosening of crucial hardware that led to the loss of control.
Examination of the flight controls revealed that essential hardware was disconnected and missing, with indications that it had been loose for multiple flights leading up to the crash. Additionally, maintenance records showed that required inspections and replacements of certain components had not been carried out, including addressing corrosion and cracking issues in specific nuts.
A lawsuit filed by the family of the meteorologist alleges negligence on the part of the maintenance facility, the helicopter operator, and the parent company of the network the meteorologist worked for. The lawsuit claims that the helicopter was running on contaminated fuel and that the pilot failed to perform adequate flight inspections and emergency procedures.
Aviation attorney Gary C. Robb, representing the family, described the maintenance errors as egregious and emphasized the need for increased safety measures in the aviation industry. The family hopes that shedding light on these maintenance lapses will lead to improved safety standards in the future.
WBTV, iHeart Media, and the maintenance facility named in the lawsuit have not yet responded to requests for comment on the NTSB report.
