Jury awards 89 million in 1999 Piper crash ?????????

Aviation General Aviation
1

A jury has handed down an $89 million award against a Pennsylvania engine manufacturer in a plane crash that killed four people in Ohio nearly 11 years ago.

The Philadelphia Common Pleas Court jury on Tuesday awarded $25 million in compensatory damages and $64 million in punitive damages to the families of victims of the August 1999 plane crash in North Lima, Ohio.

The accident happened shortly after takeoff from Youngstown-Elser Metro Airport in North Lima, Ohio. The plane had initially taken off from Oshkosh, Wis., and refueled in Ohio. Upon takeoff from Ohio, the plane was headed to Pottstown, Pa., when it crashed, according to court papers.

Two men from suburban Philadelphia and a Maryland man died in the crash. One 15-year-old boy died and another was the lone survivor.

The survivor and two families sued Lycoming Engines, claiming they concealed a carburetor problem that led to the crash.

An attorney for the Williamsport-based company says the National Transportation Safety Board found the engine wasn’t at fault. He says the company will appeal.

NTSB Report N5526J Piper PA-32-260 accident occured August 1/1999 at North Lima Ohio - 4 fatal, 1 survivor.

Law.com Story $89 million dollar award against Lycoming who will be appealing . . .

2

Unbelievable! I read the full report and there is not even a HINT of engine trouble in it. Good luck Lycoming!

3

Its lawsuits like this that almost destroyed general aviation in the 80s and 90s. There is absolutely nothing in the official report hinting at the engine manufacturer being at fault. This is just a case of a jury giving out illegal rewards. I hope to see this case get overturned very quickly, but it will still cost Lycoming $$$ just to defend themselves, which will make flying that much more expensive for the rest of us. This case is one reason why our court system needs reform, more than even health care. :unamused:

4

You are correct. Liability driving up all our costs!

5

this is why an engiene cost $30,000.

6

People in aviation tell me half the cost of parts are liability related.

A 172 sold to the government’s forrestry service cost 1/2 of what we can buy it for because they are legally protected. The Forrestry service cannot take their 172 and sell it to the public because cessna would then have liability related to an accident.

It’s sad that this adds so much to our cost.

7

The cost of building a Cub did not go from $2500 to over $100,000 in 60 years, but the liability sure did.