Army Helicopter Maker Sued in Fatal Georgia Crash

A lawsuit says a tiny missing part caused an Army helicopter to spin out of control and crash during a training flight in Georgia eight months ago, killing the co-pilot and seriously injuring two crew members.

The lawsuit filed Monday blames the manufacturer of the MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., and others that make its components for the Jan. 16 crash at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah.

The mother of Capt. Clayton O. Carpenter, who died, and the two injured crew members are seeking unspecified damages. The crew belonged to the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

Attorney Timothy Loranger says a missing safety cotter pin caused a malfunction in the helicopter’s tail rotor.

A spokeswoman for Sikorsky did not immediately return a call seeking comment.