LADD SANGER OBTAINS SETTLEMENT IN MILITARY HELICOPTER CRASH CASE IN AFGHANISTAN

Ladd Sanger represented the family of a soldier killed and another seriously injured in an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter crash near Kandahar, Afghanistan. The aircraft lost engine power due to failure of the Engine Control Unit (ECU), contained in the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system, which regulates fuel flow.

The case involved allegations that the component manufacturers were aware of prior similar failures within the FADEC and related systems but failed to implement effective corrective measures. Evidence further showed efforts to downplay the severity of those failures and avoid broader disclosure, despite the known risks to flight safety. Ladd secured a confidential settlement for the families, holding the manufacturers accountable for their negligence. Ladd has handled numerous failures of FADEC accident by tracing the failure back to counterfeit capacitors that were installed on printed circuit board but 3rd level subcontractors. Those counterfeit capacitors amazingly made it through multiple quality control checks by other manufacturers that integrated the circuit boards into their products.