5-year-old apparently caused deadly helicopter crash

[Hum]

PHOENIX ?- A federal accident report says a billionaire food-services company owner let his 5-year-old daughter sit on his lap in his helicopter's co-pilot seat and she apparently caused a 2010 crash near Phoenix that killed five people by kicking the flight controls.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the crash that killed Services Group of America owner Thomas J. Stewart for nearly three years before releasing its report Wednesday.

The report says it's "highly likely" the little girl suddenly pushed down on a control and either Stewart or his company pilot then quickly pulled up. That made the rotor blades bend and strike the tail boom.

The conclusion is being disputed by the lawyer for the pilot's family and by Stewart's privately held company. SGA moved to Arizona from Seattle in 2006.

source

[*RedBull*]

So I take it everyone died in the helicopter. That's tragic.

[remixedcat]

very tragic and this is why you should NEVER do that.

[*RedBull*]

OKAY, I promise I won't do that. :cry:

[remixedcat]

OKAY, I promise I won't do that. :cry:

LOL I meant the father let the kid play around at the controls or even close to them during an active flight is a no-no...

[duddit2]

Who knew, I'll remember this lesson next time I'm in my helicopter with my 5 year old........although I think I would have had this covered by the common sense section of my brain, but good to know none the less.

[Arceles]

A girl of that age once turned off my main power switch... turning instantly off any electrical equipment that I had, girls can be very spoiled brats sometimes...

[Growled Member]

It took them three years to figure that out?

[Detection]

Well it wasn't really the 5 year old who caused the crash, it was the guy who thought it would be clever to let her that close to the controls, what is the main thing that kids toys have, nice big buttons and levers with flashy lights