$117M Helicopter Crash Case Goes to Jury

A $117 million lawsuit that involves a California helicopter crash that caused the death of nine firefighters in 2008 was turned over to a jury for deliberation on Thursday, according to court officials.

The case was filed against General Electric by the estate of one of the victims and the surviving pilot of the Sikorsky S-61N helicopter, which crashed and burst into flames just after takeoff, killing nine firefighters and injuring four others.

GE, the company that built the aircraft’s engine, was accused of having known for six years of fuel control valve issues in the engines built for the S-61N model helicopters. The deadly 2008 crash was determined to be caused by a fuel control valve failure.

GE’s attorney argued that the helicopter was 1,400 pounds overweight when it took off.