US Army Black Hawk helicopter hit by snowmobile, rider sues government for $9.5 million

quote:

---

A Massachusetts lawyer is suing the government for $9.5 million after he crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter while riding a snowmobile, The Associated Press reported.

Jeff Smith collided with the tail of a Black Hawk helicopter while riding his snowmobile on an evening in March 2019, losing the use of his left arm and having been unable to return to full-time work since, per the report.

"The last five years, there's been surgery, recovery, surgery, recovery," he continued.

"Honestly, right now, it feels like I'm in a worst place than when I first had the surgeries in 2019," he added.

Smith's case is that the Black Hawk crew was negligent in parking the stealth helicopter on a seldom-used airfield that snowmobilers also used, adding that they did not warn them about the aircraft's presence.

"Our argument from the beginning has been that it's incompatible to have a helicopter land on an active snowmobile trail," Smith's attorney said.

The government has attempted to pin blame on Smith, saying he was driving at 65 mph after drinking two beers and taking prescription medication. It has also argued that it can't be sued under the Federal Tort Claims Act and that the crew was unaware it was landing in an area used by snowmobilers.

Following an internal inquiry into the incident, the US Army released a report saying it found "no negligence by the crew" and expressing doubt whether lighting would have prevented the crash.

---