Dead Man's Family Says Pilot Flew Recklessly

How could it come to this? The St. Petersburg (FL) Times reports Donn Goodson and Billy Harter were the best of friends. But less than eight months after both were killed in a helicopter accident in Balm (FL), Harter's children are suing Goodson's widow, saying the pilot of the Bell 47 was flying recklessly.

Here's how the NTSB sees it in its preliminary report on the accident:

On October 21, 2003, about 1140 eastern daylight time, a Bell 47G-2A-1, N73979 registered to Central Florida Flying Services Inc., and operated by an individual, impacted with a garage/hanger on the helicopter owner's private property in the town of Balm, Florida.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight. The helicopter, a fishing boat with a trailer, and a 2003 truck were destroyed. The non-rated pilot and one passenger received serious injuries. One person on the ground received fatal injuries. The flight had departed from the pilot's private Helipad at about 1100.

A witness stated the pilot took a passenger for a local flight and was returning after about a 15 minute flight. As the helicopter approached, the witness estimated it was about 8 feet off the ground and moving from west to east. The next thing the witness reported was "the blades on top of the helicopter struck the hanger above," then he saw the person who was standing about 2 feet away from him, drop to the ground. The witness then looked to the right and saw the helicopter in a nose low, tail high position, and then saw the helicopter impact with a fishing boat and pickup truck.

The lawyer for Harter's adult children, Gloria and William, say they just want a "fair shake" from the strawberry magnate's estate, left to his widow, Janet.

"It was a tragic accident for everybody concerned, in particular when you have close family friends like this," said Woody Isom, a Goodson family lawyer. "From Janet Goodson's standpoint, we're very sorry that it has come to litigation."

The FAA says Goodson wasn't certificated to fly rotorwing aircraft. And as far as that helipad he built in his backyard, the Florida Department of Transportation says it was never approved.

Isom says the families tried to settle out of court, but couldn't agree on a dollar figure.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov