HOUSTON – An Oklahoma woman and estate representative has filed a suit after her husband was killed in a helicopter crash in Africa.
Christina Mae Wyatt, individually and as administratrix of the estate of Joseph Hiram Wyatt Jr. and as next friend of minor children Cheyenne Mae Wyatt, Haley Jae Wyatt, et al. filed a complaint on Aug. 10 in the Harris County District Court against Bristow Group Inc., Bristow Aviation Holdings Limited, Bristow Helicopter Group LTD, et al. alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on Aug. 12, 2015, plaintiffs' decedent Joseph Hiram Wyatt Jr. was a pilot of a Sikorsky S-76C+ helicopter owned, operated and maintained by defendants when the helicopter experienced mechanical failure, lost altitude and crashed in Nigeria, causing his death. The suit states that authorities determined that the forward main servo input control pushrod assembly had failed.
The plaintiffs hold Bristow Group Inc., Bristow Aviation Holdings Limited, Bristow Helicopter Group LTD, et al. responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to ensure the helicopter was properly maintained.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek damages in excess of the jurisdictional limits of the court, plus interest, punitive damages, attorney's fees, costs and all other lawful and equitable relief. They are represented by Eric J. Rhine of Spagnoletti & Co. in Houston and Meredith B. Miller, Mary F. Schiavo and James R. Brauchle of Motley Rice LLC in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
Harris County District Court case number 2017-53356