Butler v. Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.

Opinion

BOLAND, J.

Summary

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., is the manufacturer of a helicopter that crashed in Griffith Park on March 23, 1998. The crash was caused by the in-flight failure of the helicopter’s tail rotor yoke. The two survivors and the successors of four others who died in the crash sued Bell Helicopter and others, asserting products liability theories of strict liability, negligence, warranty and fraud. Bell sought summary judgment based on a federal statute of repose, which bars actions against manufacturers of general aviation aircraft if the part that allegedly caused the…