Selwyn_Times: June 21, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday June 21 2023
8
NEWS
• By Kurt Bayer
A NEWLY married couple and
their wedding photographer have
filed a personal injury lawsuit
in the US against Robinson
Helicopter Company and several
aircraft parts manufacturers
after suffering severe injuries in a
crash two years ago.
Fay El Hanafy and Mahdi
Zougub had just exchanged vows
and said “I do” in front of their
closest family and friends when
guests watched on in horror as
the helicopter taking the newlyweds
away for a photoshoot
plummeted to the ground.
The young couple, along with
photographer Rachel Jordan,
were badly injured when the R44
helicopter crashed onto Terrace
Downs Resort golf course, on
June 12, 2021.
Aviation attorneys Timothy A
Loranger and Ari S Friedman, of
the Los Angeles law firm Wisner
Baum, have filed a complaint
in LA County Superior Court
on behalf of the trio, along with
Jordan’s husband, Eric.
The lawsuit seeks damages
against defendants Robinson
Helicopter Co, Avco Corporation/Lycoming
Engines, Weldon
Pump, LLC, and Parker Hannifin
Corporation.
The helicopter that crashed
was a Robinson R44 II model
helicopter containing a Lycoming
IO-540 model engine, a
Parker Hannifin pressure relief
valve, and a Weldon Pump auxiliary
fuel pump.
Robinson is a California corporation
based in Torrance, Avco
(Lycoming is an unincorporated
operating division of Avco) is a
Delaware corporation headquartered
in Texas, and both Weldon
Pump and Parker Hannifin are
Ohio corporations.
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Crash newlyweds and photographer file
lawsuit against helicopter company in US
LAWSUIT: Newly married couple Fay El Hanafy and Mahdi Zougub and their wedding
photographer Rachel Jordan have filed a personal injury lawsuit in the US after suffering
severe injuries in a helicopter crash two years ago. PHOTOS: GEORGE HEARD/NZ HERALD
Not long into the flight, the
R44 suffered a loss of engine
power suddenly and without
warning.
The helicopter entered a rapid
descent from a low altitude and
landed hard on its skids near the
ninth hole of the golf course at
Terrace Downs Resort.
The helicopter suffered serious
damage, including separation
of the tail boom and tailor rotor
system.
According to the complaint,
the newlyweds each suffered
serious and permanent physical
and psychological injuries as well
as a loss of consortium.
Jordan suffered serious and
permanent physical and psychological
injuries, and her husband
suffered “a loss of consortium”.
“The injuries suffered from the
crash have essentially put an end
to Rachel’s very successful career
as a top professional wedding
photographer in Northland, New
Zealand,” Wisner Baum said.
“Her and her husband’s
company, Two Little Starfish,
had become a household name
in the New Zealand wedding
industry.”
The LA law firm cites
government crash data from the
National Transportation Safety
Board that shows Robinson
helicopters have been involved
in more than 1650 incidents
and accidents since 1983. Of
those, 411 were fatal. It says
the R44, which is Robinson’s
most popular model, has been
involved in more than 550
incidents and accidents (187
fatal) over the same time period.
“Unfortunately, protecting
profit margins is often more
important to manufacturers
than protecting the people that
fly their aircraft,” said Loranger,
who is representing the plaintiffs.
“Robinson helicopters must
do more to identify and resolve
safety issues that all too often
injury or take the lives of pilots
and passengers.”
The lawsuit alleges strict
product liability, breach of warranties,
and negligence against
all defendants.
Wisner Baum has investigated
and handled 20 crashes
involving R22s, R44s or R66s,
representing 34 passengers or
pilots, in wrongful death or
personal injury claims involving
Robinson helicopters.
– NZ Herald
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