Chopper maker settles with N.L. crash victims

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation has reached a settlement with the sole survivor of the crash of Cougar Flight 491 off Newfoundland last year and the families of the 17 people who died.

The Sikorsky S-92A chopper carrying oil workers crashed into the ocean March 12.

Paul Jackson, a representative of Connecticut-based Sikorsky, said Tuesday that the company reached legal settlements in the past few days with survivor Robert Decker and the families of the other passengers and two pilots.

Jackson said in an interview from company headquarters that he could not discuss details of the settlement because of confidentiality agreements.

The helicopter crashed after the two-man flight crew reported sudden mechanical problems with the aircraft's gearbox.

Decker and the families sued Sikorsky and four other companies last June.

The lawsuit, filed by Philadelphia lawyer Martin Brigham, alleged the U.S. firms hadn't correctly indicated how long the Sikorsky S92A could fly safely if oil leaked from the helicopter's gearbox. 

In an emailed statement to The Canadian Press at the time, Brigham said the families wanted answers about the safety issues the crash raised.

But in court documents filed on July 14, 2009, the plaintiffs said they were discontinuing their lawsuit so they could try to reach a settlement out of court. This was the settlement confirmed Tuesday.

Family members who were reached Tuesday declined to comment.