Executive Summary
- Widows of two 6ABC Action News crew members have sued Airbus over a fatal December 2023 crash.
- The lawsuit alleges a known design defect in the AS-350A-STAR helicopter’s hydraulic system makes manual control impossible after failure.
- Sterling Helicopters and component manufacturers are also named as defendants in the Philadelphia filing.
- A January 2024 NTSB preliminary report found no engine anomalies, focusing attention on control systems.
The families of two news crew members killed in a December 2023 helicopter crash have filed a lawsuit against Airbus, alleging that a critical design defect in the aircraft’s hydraulic system led to the fatal accident. The complaint, filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, asserts that the manufacturer was aware of the potential for catastrophic failure yet continued to market the aircraft with the alleged hazard.
The plaintiffs are Rosalyn Collins, widow of 67-year-old pilot Monroe Smith, and Elaine Dougherty, widow of 45-year-old photographer Christopher Dougherty. Both men were long-time employees of Philadelphia’s 6ABC Action News team and died when the station’s leased Airbus AS-350A-STAR helicopter crashed in Wharton State Forest. According to court filings, the lawsuit contends that the helicopter’s hydraulic system—designed to assist pilots in manipulating the rotor blades—contained a “known defect.”
Attorneys for the families argue that when the hydraulic assistance fails, the pilot is forced to counteract extreme aerodynamic forces using brute physical strength, a scenario the complaint describes as often impossible to manage. The filing claims Airbus had received warnings regarding this specific danger for decades. In addition to the manufacturer, the lawsuit names Sterling Helicopters, the firm responsible for maintaining the aircraft, citing a partial hydraulic system replacement in 2019 and a subsequent inspection in 2021.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report in January 2024, which noted no evidence of engine abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. This finding has directed investigative attention toward the flight control systems. The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages for what the plaintiffs categorize as “knowing indifference” to safety risks.
Civil Litigation and Aviation Safety Context
This legal action underscores the complexities of product liability within the aviation sector, particularly regarding legacy aircraft designs. As the civil case proceeds alongside the federal safety investigation, the focus will likely center on the adequacy of manual reversion checks and whether the manufacturer provided sufficient warnings to operators. The resolution of these claims could influence future maintenance mandates and design standards for hydraulic systems in light utility helicopters widely used by law enforcement and media organizations.
