Three Injured In Hartford Helicopter Crash During Training Event

Personal Injury - April 25, 2025

Helicopter Crash During Training Event With Hartford Fire Department  Leaves Three People Injured

HARTFORD, ILLINOIS (April 25, 2025) – Three people were injured in a Hartford helicopter crash during some type of training event with the Hartford Fire Department.

Madison County officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:20 PM on Thursday. A helicopter was taking off during a training event when it crashed.

Apparently, the helicopter may have clipped a tree as it was lifting off from the ground. The helicopter involved in the incident was described as an MMB–BK 117.

Numerous emergency departments responded to the crash, including the Wood River Fire Department. At least three people were injured in the Hartford helicopter crash.

They were transported to the hospital in order to receive treatment. The extent of their injuries remains unknown at this time.

A full investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration remains ongoing.

Liability for Madison County Helicopter Crashes

Many people are injured or killed in helicopter crashes each year. According to the AOPA, “Single-engine piston helicopters had the majority of total accidents. Single-engine turbine had the majority of fatal accidents. The majority of accidents (91 %) occurred during day VMC conditions on personal flights by commercial pilots.” There are many common causes of helicopter crashes.

• Pilot Error: Helicopters are difficult to operate, even in the best of circumstances. It is therefore unsurprising that pilot error remains one of the leading causes of helicopter crashes. This will typically include poor decision-making by pilots and a lack of situational awareness.
• Weather Conditions: Helicopters are much more susceptible to adverse weather than airplanes. Accidents are particularly more likely to occur when there is low visibility or storms that may disorient a pilot.
• Maintenance Issues: Helicopters are complex pieces of machinery that require routine maintenance in order to function properly. Poor or skipped maintenance may allow lingering issues with a helicopter’s engine or other component parts to become substantially worse over time.

Helicopter pilots have a legal obligation to exercise a great deal of care in order to avoid harm to their passengers. Pursuant to 14 CFR §91.13, “No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.” Among other things, helicopter pilots must take measures to avoid known hazards, such as trees, telephone poles, and electrical lines. If a pilot fails to avoid hazards on the ground that lead to a crash, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

The company that a helicopter pilot worked for could be vicariously liable for a crash. Consider, for example, McMahon Helicopter Services, Inc. v. United States. A helicopter pilot struck a light pole while attempting to land at the Willow Run Airport. The accident happened as a result of the pilot deviating from air traffic control instructions. The court ultimately concluded that the crash was the result of pilot error. They emphasized a pilot’s responsibility to maintain situational awareness in order to avoid collisions. It is important that certain steps are taken after any helicopter crash.

• Accident Report: The crash should be reported immediately. The Federal Aviation Administration will create an official report of what happened in order to help identify all contributing factors to the crash.
• Medical Evaluation: Accident victims should seek a thorough medical evaluation. Many of the injuries associated with a helicopter crash will not be immediately obvious.
• Legal Support: Any person injured in a helicopter crash should seek the legal guidance of an experienced aviation accident attorney. An attorney can take steps to help ensure that victims are fairly compensated for their injuries.

Helicopter crashes are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where pilots are failing to properly assess their surroundings. If an accident victim was working at the time of a collision, they may have legal recourse through a workers compensation claim. They may also be able to recover through a third-party liability claim if an entity separate from their employer contributed to the crash.

Investigating Hartford Helicopter Crashes

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Hartford helicopter crash. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. This was a preventable crash that should not have taken place. Many questions remain unanswered. What is the safety record of the pilot involved? Does the company that operated the helicopter have a history of safety violations? Were all of the pre-flight safety requirements performed?

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Hartford helicopter crash? Our team of aviation accident attorneys is here to support you in any way that we can. We are committed to helping victims get the support and justice that they are entitled to under the law. No case is too large or too complex for us to handle. Whether you just have legal questions or would like a risk-free consultation, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.