A Las Vegas Court noted the filing of the 2nd lawsuit against a Las Vegas based helicopter tour operator following a crash that took the lives of five people in early December.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the four children of Delwin and Tamarra Chapman, both age 49. Delwin and Tamarra died on December 7th during a helicopter tour to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. The suit is asking for unspecified damages, likely related to loss of companionship and income due to the death of both parents of the children.
The crash involved a helicopter operated by Sundance Helicopters Inc., and took place in a remote ravine near Lake Mead. Sundance sent their letter of condolences to the Chapman family, but did not officially reply to the allegations raised in the suit.
“Sundance will continue to work openly with all parties involved in the investigation,” commented Sundance chief executive Larry Pietropaulo.
The lawsuit, along with an earlier suit filed on behalf of the families of Lovish Bhanot, 28, and Anupama Bhola, 26, was put into motion by attorney Gary Robb of Kansans City, Missouri. Bhanot and Bhola were an Indian couple on their honeymoon, also killed in the tragic crash.
Robb has let it be known that he wishes evidence collection for both cases to be consolidated into one effort, simplifying the chain of evidence pertinent to two cases. However, he wishes for the two suits to be considered separate trials.
The pilot of the helicopter was the fifth victim. 31 year old Landon Nield of Las Vegas was also a newlywed, having been married in June.
According to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) review, the helicopter had received extensive maintenance the day before the crash, including replacement of several key parts, such as an entirely new engine.
Robb believes the evidence reported just before the crash, including an erratic flight pattern, indicates either mechanical failure or pilot error.
