A lawsuit has been filed against the manufacturer of an aircraft involved in the Inhofe plane crash that took the life of a United States senator’s son. The family is claiming that the aircraft manufacturer failed to adequately maintain the aircraft.
Crash Details
The Inhofe plane crash occurred on Nov. 10, 2013 as he was approaching Tulsa International Airport. Perry Inhofe was cleared to land on runway 18L and to reduce his speed to 150 knots. Both instructions were acknowledged by Inhofe, but the plane suddenly started to turn left. When the controller asked Inhofe about the turn, Inhofe reported that he had a control problem and then that his left engine had shut down. Witnesses reported that the plane was turning with its landing gear down and the left propeller on the engine not turning.
NTSB Report
An NTSB report states that the pilot’s loss of airplane control was the cause of the Inhofe plane crash and that they could not determine a reason for the loss of control or the engine shut down. The NTSB claims that testing did not reveal evidence of any malfunction. The report says that the plane should have been flyable, even with the lost engine, something that attorneys for the family of Inhofe disputes.
Attorney Statement
According to the family’s lawyer, William Angelley, who is a pilot himself, says that investigators in his office found evidence of the left engine failure within 30 minutes. Also, Angelley says that once the left engine failed after the airplane’s landing gear and flaps were extended, it set up an “impossible situation” for the pilot, which led to the plane crash. With the landing gear down and the flaps extended, the plane had too much drag and not enough power to recover from the lost engine.
Multiple Crashes
Reports have surfaced since the Inhofe plane crash that the model plane he was flying, the Mitsubishi MU-2B-25, has been the subject of NTSB investigations in 17.5% of crashes between 1982 and 2011. According to reports, 53 of those accidents have involved death. Many pilots like flying the MU-2B as it is known because of its jet-like speed, but other aviators claim that the aircraft is dangerous. The lawsuit filed by the Inhofe family names Honeywell International, the manufacturer of the engines, Landmark Aviation Services and Standard Aero, which worked on the engine that shut down. It also name Intercontinental Jet Service Corp., the company that reinstalled the engine after repair.
Has a Loved One Died in a Plane Crash Because of a Defective Airplane Part?
If you or a loved one has been injured in an airplane crash similar to the Inhofe plane crash, or if a loved one has died in a similar accident of any kind, contact Attorney Group today. You may have a claim for a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit that could make you eligible to receive a monetary compensation for your loss. Attorney Group can analyze your case and refer it to one of our affiliated attorneys if you qualify. Call today.
