2006 crash of helicopter during filming of "The Final Season" (WHO) |
A jury has decided pilot error caused a helicopter crash that killed a cameraman and injured two others during a film shoot. Six of the seven jurors determined Monday that pilot Richard Green was at fault for the June 2006 crash near the eastern Iowa town of Walford.
The Polk County jury cleared Bristol Aerospace, a Canadian aircraft part-maker of any wrongdoing. Roland Schlotzhauer of Lenexa, Kan. was killed when the helicopter hit a power line and crashed in a cornfield. Green and producer Tony Wilson were injured.
During the month-long trial, plaintiffs argued a windshield-mounted wire cutter designed to slice through power lines manufactured by Bristol Aerospace had been shortened and dulled to cut costs.
Jurors declared Green was 75 percent responsible for the crash, while two producers for "The Final Season" were 25 percent responsible.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Polk County jury cleared Bristol Aerospace, a Canadian aircraft part-maker of any wrongdoing. Roland Schlotzhauer of Lenexa, Kan. was killed when the helicopter hit a power line and crashed in a cornfield. Green and producer Tony Wilson were injured.
During the month-long trial, plaintiffs argued a windshield-mounted wire cutter designed to slice through power lines manufactured by Bristol Aerospace had been shortened and dulled to cut costs.
Jurors declared Green was 75 percent responsible for the crash, while two producers for "The Final Season" were 25 percent responsible.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
