By Dean Narciso
The Columbus Dispatch
A Canadian company has sued the city of Columbus, the Columbus Police Division, and its mechanic for selling what it says is an unsafe, $510,000 police helicopter.
The pilot of the 12-year-old McDonnell Douglas 369E, sold last year to Versatile Helicopters of Chemainus, British Columbia, was forced to make an emergency landing following engine failure, according to court records filed Thursday in U.S. District Court.
City officials do not dispute that the copter, sold in April 2009, was not in top condition, but they say they made that clear.
“The bill of sale states that they are purchasing it as is, with no warranties,” said Glenn B. Redick, deputy city attorney. The purchaser also was told to bring its own mechanic to conduct a pre-sale inspection, but declined, he said.
The city directed its Oklahoma-based broker, Mark White, to describe the helicopter as “airworthy, systems functioning normally, current on maintenance” and “in good condition,” according to the lawsuit.
The buyer flew it from Columbus to Canada.
But when delivered, it was found to have “structural cracks, expired components, loose drive coupling components and other significant maintenance deficiencies.”
Just like when purchasing a used car, buyers have the responsibility to inspect an item and walk away if they choose, Redick said.
Once in Canada, and after 30 hours of flight time, the Versatile pilot made an emergency landing in Bellingham, Wash., after main bearings in the engine failed. The company says it has spent more than $200,000 to fix the copter.
Now, a local aviation expert questions the safety of the rest of the Police Division’s fleet.
Dwight D. Law, a consultant with Dublin-based Aerosafe, examined the maintenance contracts and logs and reported that the aircraft failed to comply with federal air-worthiness standards or U.S.-Canadian export requirements, according to the lawsuit.
Columbus has six police helicopters, with a value of about $1.3 million apiece, that rotate among two-hour shifts when weather permits. The helicopter unit has not had any significant safety issues in recent years, said George Speaks, deputy director of the Columbus Public Safety Department.
The allegations are “grossly incorrect,” said Lt. Mike Elkins, who heads the helicopter unit. There have been two engine failures over five years and only one serious injury in almost 40 years of operation, he said. Statistically, there should have been more injuries and even lost pilots.
As for the division’s mechanic, Helicopter Minit-Men, “We have nothing but total confidence in them.”
The city has informed all its helicopter pilots of Law’s concerns, Elkins said.
“They were given the opportunity to not fly and still perform their (other) functions as police officers. And I was told that none of them opted to do that.”
Copyright 2010 The Columbus Dispatch