Three People Injured When Cal Fire Helicopter Crashed In Residential Area Near Banning Airport
BANNING, CALIFORNIA (September 27, 2022) – Three people sustained injuries when the Cal Fire helicopter they were riding in crashed by the Banning Airport.
Riverside County police officials are saying that the accident took place on Saturday afternoon. A Cal Fire helicopter was attempting to land in a residential area when it crashed.
Three people inside of the helicopter sustained moderate injuries and were taken to a local trauma center. Authorities are saying that the Cal Fire helicopter was being used to fight the Fairview Fire.
A Cal Fire officials said that the crash was caused by some type of malfunction. An investigation into the crash near the Banning Airport remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Banning Helicopter Crashes
Helicopters are far more likely to be involved in crashes that commercial aircraft. According to AFAR, the fatality rate for all helicopters in the United States was 0.72 per 100,000 flight hours. This is comparable to private aviation which has a fatality rate similar to motor vehicle collisions. By contrast, it is extremely rare for there to be any fatal accident with commercial aircraft in a given year. The take off and landing phase tend to be the most dangerous part of any flight, including those involving helicopters. There are a number of common causes of helicopter crashes.
- Component failures
- Software failures
- Poor maintenance
- Fuel starvation
Depending on the facts of any case, the company that manufactured a helicopter could potentially be liable for a helicopter crash. Companies that manufacture helicopters have a legal responsibility to make sure that their products are reasonably safe. They can be liable for the manufacturing, marketing or design defects associated with their products. Any type of latent defect with a helicopter that contributed to a crash could potentially form the basis of a product liability claim.
There are a large number of manufacturing defects that could lead to a malfunction and subsequent helicopter crash. Any type of improper calibration with a helicopter’s gearbox or accelerometer could lead to a crash. It is common for helicopters that have gearbox malfunctions to enter into an uncontrolled spiral before hitting the ground. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any helicopter crash.
- All parts of the helicopter that crashed should be examined.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
When a worker is injured on the job, they will typically have recourse through a worker’s compensation claim. They may also have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, helicopter manufacturers like Boeing will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any accident. An aviation accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Riverside County Helicopter Crash
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Cal Fire helicopter crash by the Banning Airport. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened for the sake of all of the victims. It is our sincere hope that the source of the malfunction in this crash will be identified and that steps will be taken to prevent other accidents.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a helicopter crash. It can be difficult to know where to begin. Our team of aviation safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a helicopter crash we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
