Runway101,
I know the guys at the carburetor company you speak of. They were in fact sued due to an accident that was clearly pilot error (ran out of gas.) The lawyers slapped a suit on anybody even associated with the airplane. Most settled to make them go away, as that's the way it's done here in the states.
The carburetor company's lawyer decided to fight but alas he was not as adroit at defense as the company would have wished. Next thing you know they have a $20 million judgement against them. After the trial their insurance company dropped them as being too expensive to insure.
Interesting footnote is that the president of the company later was summoned to Washington to testify before congress about frivolous lawsuits. Congress agreed it was outrageous and decided that perhaps they should cap judgements at $12 million instead.
As to the bladders, I don't know how Frank ever got the R44 certified without them? It's about time they make that design flaw right. Too bad the customers have to pay.
