By Emily Wood & Associated Press
 
September 19, 2008
 
REDDING, Ca. -- The family of one of the Grayback firefighters killed in the Northern California helicopter crash in August filed a wrongful death suit Friday against Grants Pass-based Carson Helicopters.
 
The family of 25-year-old Phoenix, Oregon Firefighter Scott Charlson filed a 22-page lawsuit Thursday, requesting damages exceeding $75,000.
 
The complaint lists six reasons for the lawsuit, and alleges that design flaws and negligent maintenance may have caused the crash. It sites negligence on behalf of Carson Helicopters, United technologies, Sikorsky Aircraft and the General Electric Company, all who had a part in the production of the helicopter that crashed.
 
The other reasons include product liability, a breach of warranty, common carrier negligance, and survivorship, which is the pain and suffering the Charlson family has endured since the death of their son.
 
Carson Helicopters responded to the suit in a press release Friday:
 
"The aircraft that crashed, and all Carson S61 helicopters, are equipped with improved and strenghtened transmission inputs with greater bearing surfaces that were designed and FAA engineered by Carson Helicopters. They are very different and much stronger than the older units blamed in some previous crashes of th S61 Helicopter. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families who suffered loss in this accident and we remain committed to finding the cause of the accident."
 
The Charlson family could not be reached for comment, but their lawyers say they are in contact with other families of the victims that could also join this suit.
 
Charlson was one of seven Oregon firefighters and an Oregon pilot killed when their helicopter crashed August 5 in the Siskiyou-Trinity National Forest east of Redding. A US Forest Service employee on board also died. Four survived. The helicopter was ferrying firefighters away from a remote site on the front lines of the Iron Complex of wildfires when it crashed. Of the nine victims, seven were with Grayback Forestry.
 
An initial investigation found that the chopper's main rotor lost power during takeoff. A preliminary crash report released by the National Transportation Safety Board said the Grants Pass-based Carson Sikorsky S61N helicopter hit trees after losing power and fell out of the air over the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The report said the firefighting aircraft came to rest on its left side before bursting into flames.
 
Charlson was a student at Southern Oregon University and an aspiring sports journalist.