Pilot’s wife blames helicopter manufacturer in deadly Charlotte TV news crash
Two years after a Charlotte news station’s helicopter crash killed two fliers, a second lawsuit has been filed. This time, it is against the helicopter’s manufacturer.
The pilot’s wife — one day before the two-year anniversary of the death of her husband — alleged “catastrophic failure” by the California-based Robinson Helicopter Company by failing to correct the unstable nuts and bolts used to assemble the aircraft.
The pilot, Christopher “Chip” Tayag, died alongside WBTV meteorologist Jason Myers in the crash along Interstate 77 on Nov. 22, 2022. They were on a test flight, training in a simulated news scene. Tayag had flown more than 2,000 hours — the equivalent of 83 full days of flight.
The National Transportation Safety Board’s crash investigation determined a loose bolt and other improperly installed hardware caused the wreck. The bolt, a nut, palnut, two washers and two hat-shaped spacers (that were installed backward) were loose, according to the NTSB.
It had been improperly installed for about three years, according to the investigation, and had eventually caused Tayag to lose control.
The investigation also found that “inadequate inspections” of parts by the pilot and by maintenance personnel resulted in eventual failures and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
Pilots and maintenance employees are supposed to check hardware before each flight, according to the NTSB.
Kerry Tayag, Tayag’s wife, filed a lawsuit in Charlotte’s federal court Thursday blaming the company for being negligent in handling a known issue with failed self-locking nuts.
The company has issued a series of letters to owners, operators and maintenance personnel following reports of failed self-locking nuts.
“A possible cause for cracking nuts is hydrogen embrittlement, which can be introduced during hardware manufacturing,” the company wrote. It told owners “cracked or corroded nuts require replacement,” but it did not “mandate action on the part of an owner, operator, mechanic, or pilot,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims the company caused the wrongful death of Tayag and demands a trial by jury on the company’s alleged negligence and breach of warranty. Tayag’s wife said she suffered loss of earnings when Tayag died and is asking the company to address her lost companionship and protection, as well as her mental pain and suffering.
She is also asking the company to cover Tayag’s November 2022 funeral expenses.
Previous crash lawsuit
The meteorologist’s wife, Jillian Myers, filed a lawsuit against Wilson Air Center, a maintenance facility, TTWN Media Network and iHeartMedia in March 2023.
iHeartMedia contracted with WBTV News to operate the helicopter through its TTWN company, which employed Tayag and an unnamed mechanic.
She alleged that the unnamed mechanic failed to diagnose maintenance issues and “signed off on an unairworthy helicopter.” She also contends that Tayag improperly inspected the helicopter before the flight and failed to perform in-flight emergency procedures for engine failure.
The case was filed in Mecklenburg County but was considered “exceptional” or “complex business” and is continuing under the administration of Cleveland and Lincoln counties’ courts.
This story was originally published November 22, 2024 at 1:57 PM.
