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Article last updated:
Thursday, July 05, 2001 5:46 AM MST
Lawsuit filed in
helicopter crash
By MICHAEL P. MAYKO
[email protected]
NEW HAVEN -- A decision allowing a Bell 212 helicopter to fly with a corroded swash plate bearing led to a 1998 crash in Nigeria that killed three people, including a former Fairfield and Greenwich pilot, a federal lawsuit charges. The suit was recently filed by Richard Altschuler, a West Haven lawyer.
The lawsuit seeks more than $75 million in damages on behalf of the families of John Montgomery Hartley, the state resident, and Gabriel Ajamma and Paulinus Madu, both of Nigeria.
Named as defendants in the case are British Island Airways (Guernsey) International; Bristow Helicopters Ltd., which employed Hartley as a pilot; and Brass Exploration Unlimited, of England, and Baker Hughes Inc. of Houston.
Three supervisors of British Island Airways and Bristow Helicopters are also named as defendants.
Attempts to contact Baker Hughes were unsuccessful. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill in Bridgeport.
John Montgomery Hartley was a Vietnam veteran and a very experienced pilot, said Altschuler.
The helicopter plunged into the Imo River in eastern Nigeria. At the time it was carrying cargo and personnel to an oil rig owned by Brass Exploration.
Twelve days before the crash, the complaint claims the three sued employees tried to remove a corroded swash plate bolt to enable the helicopter's trunnion (pivot point) to be rotated for greasing.
The swash plate assembly allows the pilot to control the helicopter's speed, direction and movement by changing the pitch of its rotor blades.
They attempted to remove the bolt with the aid of a hammer, punch and weight block, subjecting the bolt to an induced stress, Altschuler claims in the suit. However, they failed to remove the bolt, decided to abort the further work to avoid unnecessary delays or postponement of flights and elected not to replace the bolt for commercial reasons.
Altschuler charged they left the defective bolt on the helicopter because of pressure to avoid delaying or postponing flights.
As a result on June 30, 1998, the helicopter piloted by Hartley began ripping apart in flight before plunging into the river.
In his suit, Altschuler cites Nigerian law in seeking death damages and workers' compensation.
He further charges the defendants were negligent in maintaining and ensuring the helicopter's safety.
Michael P. Mayko, who covers legal issues, can be reached at 330-6286.