LADD SANGER SECURES SETTLEMENT IN HAWAIIAN HELICOPTER TOUR CRASH

Ladd Sanger represented multiple passengers injured in the crash of an Airbus EC130 T2 helicopter operated by Blue Hawaiian along the Nāpali Coast in Hawaii. The aircraft suffered a sudden loss of engine power caused by a failed fuel line, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing with limited options over rugged terrain and open water. The fuel line failure was caused by a engineering defect where the generator set up a harmonic vibration that caused the fuel line to break. 

The case focused not only on the engine failure, but also on the failure of the helicopter’s energy-absorbing seat system. Although designed to mitigate impact forces during a crash, the seats did not perform as intended under vertical load, contributing to the severity of the passengers’ injuries.

All six passengers sustained serious injuries, including spinal compression fractures and other orthopedic trauma, with one passenger left permanently paralyzed. Ladd pursued claims related to both the mechanical failure and defective safety systems, securing a confidential resolution on behalf of the injured passengers.