It might be "Legal" but it sure isn't nice.
I reckon rent on the digs must be a burden and one must keep up appearances.
All you young folks out there....pay attention to this.
It is your License, Your Life, and Your Future.....remember there are unhappy consequences to bad events that you might be held responsible for...and in some cases....your Next-of-Kin might have to pay for out of your Estate if you are killed in that same bad event.
Along with the Privileges of that License you hold are Responsibilities and Liabilities. When you are making your decisions.....keep that in mind.
Come Court time...your Boss Fellah is going to show up with his own Legal Counsel who is going to look out for the Boss Fellah's interests. You want Legal Counsel....you shall have to hire your own.
It isn't necessarily fair, nice, or something we talk about much....but it is Reality.
The Widow in this case has legal standing to initiate an action against the Pilot's Estate and if the Court agrees with her in the end....the Pilot's Widow is going to have to pay up. At the very least....she is going to have to endure a lot of heart ache, misery, and financial loss while defending against the action.
I did not know AJ...that I know of....and am making no observations about the merits of the action or the tragedy that led up to this happening.
I am just reminding our young folks who attend these parts of what can happen during their careers in aviation. Aviation can be rewarding on several layers but it also can be costly as well. Do your best to be on the correct side of that balance beam.
Just read the AAIB Report.
Here is the conclusion.....their Conclusion actually.
Conclusion
The accident occurred when the helicopter flew at a near constant height, heading and groundspeed into the western slope of Shanlieve. No technical fault was identified in the examination of the wreckage, but given the extreme disruption of the airframe and flying controls, a full inspection was not possible and therefore a technical fault cannot be completely ruled out. The helicopter impacted the terrain some 100 ft below the summit height of 2,054 ft.
Without clearer evidence of the pilot’s actions or intentions, no conclusive causal factors for the accident could be established. However, as possible contributory factors, it is likely that the upper slopes of the ridge were obscured by cloud and some combination of visual or distracting factors led the pilot to consider that he was clear of terrain. Whilst there was no evidence of any pre-existing condition or disease, subtle pilot incapacitation could not be ruled out.
Anything beyond what is in bold print (my edit there....) is wasted conjecture.
The AAIB has no idea what caused the accident. As all the occupants died in the crash....and there were no CVR's....we shall never know what actually caused the crash.
It is a fact the aircraft flew smack dab into the hill about a 100 feet below the summit. We just don't know why.
The Plaintiffs Legal Counsel shall raise some very pointed questions and at some point a Judge or Jury shall have to decide what bearing the answers have on the situation.