Popping out of the tower for a break mid-duty, taking their eyes away from the runway while there was a helicopter still on the strip, and in general, fumbling through their duties like amateurs on the first day at the job – this was how air traffic controllers at the Torrance Aircraft acted on the day of the 2003 helicopter crash that killed two, and left one pilot seriously injured. That was also the gist of the argument for the attorneys for Gavin Heyworth, the pilot who survived the crash, and a judge has now held that the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration was 100 percent liable for the accident

On the afternoon of November 6, 2003, Gavin Heyworth, a 22-year-old student pilot, who had just returned from Marine duty in Iraq, prepared for a solo flight at the Torrance Municipal Airport, Zameperini field. The airport is a popular training ground for new pilots, and air traffic controllers and pilots rely on sight as the airport tower lacks a radar.

On the day of the crash, the tower was understaffed, with just three of the air traffic controllers manning their positions. You would think that with a shortage of staff, the ones at their position would be more vigilant to make up for the missing pair of hands.

Au contraire. At one point, Cynthia Issa, one of the controllers, left on a break, and left another controller, Edward Weber, alone to handle things. Weber gave Heyworth the all clear to take off, and noticed that things were getting too busy to handle alone. He called Issa back from her break. She got back to her position, and from the taped recordings of their conversations during the moments before the crash, it’s clear that there was a lot of fumbling and messing up. Heyworth was given the all clear to ascend just when another helicopter with two people on board was beginning to descend. Because of the position of the two copters, neither of the 2 pilots could see each other. They relied on instructions from the tower, which it is now apparent, was being staffed with negligent and careless controllers. Weber, it was made clear, was looking away from the scene in the moments before the crash.

When the crash occurred, Heyworth’s copter crashed into the rotor of the other copter, and that machine fell to the ground killing both people inside. Heyworth’s copter auto rotated for a while before crashing to the ground. The impact was severe enough to sustain severe injures to the lower part of his body. Heyworth remained hospitalized and in a coma for six weeks. To date, he has great pain and difficulty walking.

Last year, Heyworth field a lawsuit against the FAA holding it liable for the crash. The FAA reported with allegations that Heyworth did not respond to instructions during the ascent. Now a ruling has vindicated Heyworth’s stand.

The amount for compensation to be paid to Heyworth’s and the families for the trauma is yet to be fixed. For the amount of pain and suffering that Heyworth has been forced to undergo, and the loss of two men through now fault of their own, and solely because of the ineptitude of the air traffic controllers, we hope they receive the compensation that’s due to them.

If you have been injured or a loved has been killed in a helicopter crash or any other aviation accident, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.

Robert Young’s family will finally have the closure they’ve been waiting for. Six years after the Monroe businessman was killed in a plane crash in Oak Grove, a jury has awarded a settlement of $4 million to be paid by the company that manufactured the faulty engine that was seen to have been the cause of the crash. Teledyne Continental Motors, the company that manufactured the engine, will pay the settlement to Young’s family.

In January 2002, Young was returning home from a hunting camp in Arkansas, when the plane developed engine trouble. Before long, the plane had crashed into a field. Young died on impact.

His family alleged it was the faulty engine that caused the crash. Young had been an avid flying enthusiast, and there was nothing to suggest otherwise. There has been controversy about the judgment and the possibility of pilot error having caused the crash, but obviously a jury thought differently.

This is reportedly the largest civil settlement ever awarded in the area, and $4 million dollars is not an amount given away lightly. The jury must have seen damaging and solid evidence against TCM to take away so much. When we take to the skies, we put our life in the hands of the engine manufacturers. Any engine defect can prove deadly when you are several miles about ground. This is why we must hold these manufacturers to the highest standards possible, and punish severely when they fall below these standards.

It would seem, based on the jury’s verdict, that TCM fell below these standards, and as a result, Robert Young paid the ultimate price. Being a prominent member of society, he will be missed by his community, and by his family. There was no financial need for this family to pursue a settlement. Money wasn’t the reason here. They most likely wanted to absolve their father of any errors on his part, which may have caused the crash. They obviously believed very strongly in the defective nature of the engine, and believed that pursuing the case and clearing Young’s name was more important than the money. Now, it appears that they can finally call the matter closed.

If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in a plane crash, you need the help of an experienced California personal injury attorney. Contact a lawyer at The Reeves Law Group for a free consultation.