Accident Occurred In 2014 Resulting In The Fatal Injury Of Three Crewmen

A "settlement in principle" has been reached between Sikorsky and the widows of three Navy crewmen who were fatally injured in an accident involving an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter in 2014.

The aircraft went down January 8 about 18 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. A Navy investigation found that insulated wiring likely chafed against a damaged fuel line, which allowed a spark to escape and ignite fuel through holes in the fuel line. The pilots became disoriented due to the thick smoke in the helicopter, leading to the accident.

The widows filed a lawsuit against Sikorsky and three other companies alleging the aircraft was assembled with defective and unsafe Kapton wiring insulation.

Terms of the settlement agreement have not been released. The Associated Press reports that an attorney for the plaintiffs said in a statement that the parties "have worked out an agreement which provides for the conclusion of the claim by the families against Sikorsky in exchange for limited compensation."

There are still outstanding claims against General Electric Co., DuPont Co. and L-3 Communications Corp. All deny the allegations.

(Image from file. Not accident aircraft)

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