Jury In Mobile, AL, Finds For Continental Motors | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.02.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.03.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.04.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.05.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.06.25

Thu, Oct 11, 2012

Jury In Mobile, AL, Finds For Continental Motors

Says Engine Company Not Liable For 2008 Accident In Kentucky

Continental Motors has been found not to be liable for an accident that resulted in the fatal injury of a Louisville, KY, man in 2008. A jury in Mobile, AL, where the company is based, determined that the accident was not caused by a manufacturing defect in the crankshaft.

Defense attorneys for Continental argued that the failure was due to mistakes made by the company that had overhauled the engine of the Beech 36. The NTSB probable cause report, which is not admissible as evidence in court, indicates the accident was the result of "the pilot’s continued operation of the aircraft with known deficiencies. Contributing to this accident was the improper sealing of the engine case during overhaul."

The suit was brought by Natalie Freeman, the widow of the pilot fatally injured in the accident. Her attorneys argued that the crankshaft failed on the airplane, causing it to go down. Attorney Norman Waldrop, who represented Continental, told the online news site AL.com that aviation companies as a rule face too many lawsuits. "It's not the product. Most of the time, it's pilot error or maintenance ... or weather," he said.

Freeman's attorneys say they will likely appeal the jury's ruling because the judge would not allow the panel to hear testimony about other crankshaft failures on Continental engines.

Continental was bought in 2011 by China-based AVIC International Holding Corp.

FMI: Probable Cause Report 

Advertisement

More News

Citation Operators Get Another Flight Data Connection for QA

LinxUs System Adds Capabilities for Data-Driven Operators Textron Aviation announced another option for operators processing their post-flight data, adding interoperability with GE>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.01.25)

Aero Linx: The de Havilland Moth Club Ltd The de Havilland Moth Club evolved from a belief that an association of owners and operators of Moth aeroplanes should be formed to create>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Bellanca 8GCBC

(Pilot) Inadvertently Applied Excessive Braking Action, And The Airplane Nosed Over Analysis: The pilot reported that, while landing at a remote, rough and uneven airstrip in a tai>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.01.25)

“MCADT is committed to rapidly integrating armed first-person view drones into the FMF, enhancing small-unit lethality and providing organic capabilities that warfighters cur>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: High-Speed Match-up - Venom and GE Rebirth A Legend

From 2017 (YouTube Edition): Major Engine Supplier Joins Forces With Small Aircraft Manufacturer… GE recently made an agreement with Venom Aircraft to supply engines for the>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC