Plane Crashes
The Hershewe Law Firm aviation attorneys aggressively investigate plane crashes, collisions and other accidents involving aircraft in Arkansas to thoroughly represent our clients.
After every civil aviation accident in the United States, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) assigns a team to determine what happened, and ultimately to extract lessons that may save lives in the future. The investigation is their charter and future flight safety is their goal.
The process of investigating plane crashes is painstaking. Plane crashes rarely occur in convenient locations. Whether a rural area or a large city, the investigative team usually only have a few hours to capture perishable evidence and document it thoroughly. They may have a little longer to pull together pilot logs, details from the engine examination, autopsy records and other crash site details.
NTSB Investigators begin by setting up a perimeter, taking digital photographs to get an overview. They observe scene scarring, how trees and surrounding terrain is damaged, how the ground is scarred, what other artifacts are available to assist in determining the angle that the plane descended and any hints that may provide.
The next step in a crash investigation is to examine the wreckage. Details such as the position of the seats, the position of the controls, and the condition of rudder all play a factor in determining the cause of the accident. The propeller and external hull are inspected for scratching and scarring which will provide additional information on the crash. On occasion the engine manufacturer sends a representative to provide additional expertise. This representative will examine the engine and other major components at the site, however the entire engine may be shipped back to the factory for a complete tear-down.
Plane crashes require intense scrutiny and investigation. Therefore, if you are a principal in an aviation accident as a passenger or pilot, plane owner or relative of a survivor, you need representation in the process from the beginning of the process to investigate, document and advocate for your interest in the matter. Those representatives should be aviation accident lawyers and aviation consultants who are part of a law firm experienced in plane crash litigation in Arkansas. There are far more crashes than are commonly acknowledged and attorneys familiar with aviation accident litigation will know how to determine if there is any commonality with specific types of equipment or parts failures.
If you have questions about Arkansas aviation law you should contact our law firm for assistance toll-free at 1-877-382-9734 or complete our contact web form.
