“Attorney Gary Robb is by far the most successful helicopter crash lawyer in the country.”

The Nation’s Leading Helicopter Crash Law Firm

Nationwide News Helicopter Crash Lawyers

With over $2 billion in results, including the record largest helicopter crash jury verdicts and settlements in U.S. history, our success is unsurpassed.

News-gathering helicopter operations present unique and persistent dangers that have claimed the lives of pilots, photographers, and reporters for decades. Despite industry-wide awareness of these risks, preventable crashes continue to occur due to maintenance failures, pilot workload issues, and systemic safety lapses.

Robb & Robb has established national leadership in news helicopter crash litigation, holding operators, manufacturers, and media companies accountable while driving meaningful safety reforms across the aviation and broadcasting industries.

Call (877) 749-4999 or use our online contact form to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a nationwide news helicopter crash attorney. Your meeting can be conducted virtually for convenience. Available 24/7.

Our Verdicts & Settlements

Record-Setting Results in Helicopter Accidents

We have obtained the two highest jury verdicts in U.S. history in helicopter crash trials ($350 million and $116 million), as well as the two highest pre-trial settlements in U.S. history ($100 million, Colorado and $100 million, Nevada), both for a single wrongful death and a single personal injury.

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Family Heritage, National Impact

Built by family and united in purpose, this nationally recognized aviation law firm is led by Gary and Anita Robb, alongside their son Andrew and his wife Brittany. Decades of focused experience, unmatched results, and fearless advocacy define their work. Together, they have secured landmark verdicts, shaped aviation safety standards, and earned a reputation as the leading authority in complex aviation litigation nationwide.

Stories from the Families We’ve Advocated For

At Robb & Robb, families place their trust in us during the most challenging moments of their lives. We honor that trust with steadfast dedication, combining compassion, clear guidance, and tenacious advocacy. Standing with families affected by aviation accidents, we fight for justice, accountability, and meaningful improvements in safety across the industry.

Aviation accidents require unmatched legal experience. If you or a loved one have been injured due to negligence, contact Robb & Robb online or call (877) 749-4999 to explore your legal options.

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We Wrote the Book We Defined the Modern Practice of Helicopter Crash Litigation

"This book is an essential volume...by accomplished trial lawyer Gary Robb, who has used these same techniques in a brilliant career..." - International Press Publications -

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Our $126.28 Million WBTV Judgment: A Landmark Case in Aviation Safety

Our firm holds the United States record judgment for a news gathering helicopter crash.

On November 22, 2022, WBTV meteorologist Jason Myers, 41, and pilot Chip Tayag were killed when their helicopter crashed near Interstate 77 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The aircraft, operated by Total Traffic and Weather Network (TTWN), went down during a simulated news mission and was destroyed on impact.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators determined that the helicopter was not airworthy at the time of the flight. The crash resulted from a defective locked nut in the control system, a component known to crack and fail, which connected the control rod to the main rotor mast. Despite explicit manufacturer warnings advising against the use of this specific part, TTWN had failed to implement the recommended safety upgrade.

The Legal Battle and Historic Recovery

Our firm represented Jason Myers's widow, Jillian Myers in North Carolina, in wrongful death litigation against TTWN and related defendants. Attorney Gary C. Robb, speaking for the family, stated: "Even TTWN's own witnesses admitted that the helicopter was not airworthy on the date of the crash, and Mr. Myers's death was both predictable and totally preventable."

On September 18, 2025, Mecklenburg County Superior Court Judge Forrest D. Bridges approved a final judgment awarding the Myers family $105 million in compensatory damages, plus $21.28 million in prejudgment interest, for a total recovery of $126.28 million. Of that amount, $50 million was to be paid within 60 days by TTWN's primary aviation insurer. The remaining amount of the judgment is, per the Court’s final judgment, being pursued against the underlying and excess carriers.

In his order, Judge Bridges acknowledged the profound impact of Jason Myers's death on his surviving wife and four children. The judge also emphasized the terror experienced in the helicopter's final moments, noting expert analysis that Jason Myers likely endured 13 seconds of "uncontrollable panic as well as hopelessness" before impact.

A Case That Drives Industry-Wide Change

The Myers family's case has already begun influencing aviation safety practices. Attorney Gary Robb emphasized that the family wanted to improve safety practices industry-wide, so no other lives are lost as a result.

This settlement, the most significant wrongful death recovery in news helicopter crash history, sent an unmistakable message to operators and media companies: cutting corners on maintenance and ignoring manufacturer warnings can result in full accountability.

The case also exposed insurance coverage gaps and revealed instances of bad-faith tactics. TTWN's excess and umbrella insurers denied coverage shortly before mediation, a decision Judge Bridges described as "tantamount to an ambush." Under the final judgment, the Myers family was authorized to pursue the remaining $76 million directly against those insurers.

The Core Risk: Pilot Workload and Live Reporting

The practice of requiring pilots to simultaneously fly the aircraft and provide live reports to television stations creates dangerous cognitive overload. When pilots are focused on narrating events, monitoring competitors, and delivering compelling coverage, their attention is diverted from critical flight safety tasks such as maintaining situational awareness, monitoring instruments, and avoiding other aircraft.

This systemic issue reflects operational pressure within the media industry, where ratings and coverage priorities can override safety considerations.

Common Causes of News Helicopter Crashes

News helicopter accidents stem from a combination of mechanical, operational, and human factors.

Common contributing causes include:

Maintenance negligence. Operators who skip inspections, use non-approved parts, ignore manufacturer service bulletins, or fail to maintain airworthiness put crews and the public at risk. The WBTV crash illustrates how a single defective component can lead to catastrophic failure.
Pilot workload and live-reporting distraction. When pilots are expected to fly and narrate simultaneously, they cannot maintain the level of focus required for safe operations. Divided attention during critical flight phases, such as takeoffs, landings, and maneuvering in congested airspace, increases the risk of accidents.
Multi-helicopter congestion at news events. Multiple news helicopters covering the same event (police chases, breaking news, sporting events) create crowded airspace with heightened collision risk. Pilots focused on "getting the shot" may fail to maintain adequate separation or visual contact with other aircraft, potentially compromising safety.
Communication and coordination failures. Lack of standardized communication protocols between competing news helicopters operating in the same airspace leads to dangerous situations where pilots lose track of each other's positions.
Defective parts or ignored manufacturer warnings. As seen in the WBTV case, using components known to fail, despite manufacturer warnings, constitutes gross negligence. Both manufacturers and operators share responsibility when defective parts cause crashes.
Emerging issue: Drone congestion (UAS interference). The proliferation of unmanned aircraft systems poses new hazards to news helicopters. These may include:
- Public safety drones deployed by police and fire departments
- News and media drones operated by competing outlets
- Hobbyist and recreational UAVs operating in uncontrolled airspace
- Lack of adequate see-and-avoid protocols for human-crewed and uncrewed aircraft

Safety Recommendations to Prevent News Helicopter Crashes

Many news helicopter crashes may be preventable through the adoption of known safety measures and modern technological solutions.

Robb & Robb advocates for:

Operational Reforms

Eliminate live reporting by pilots. Assign separate on-air reporters or photojournalists to provide narration, allowing pilots to focus exclusively on flying.
Require dedicated spotters. When covering multi-helicopter events, assign a dedicated observer whose sole responsibility is to monitor other aircraft and maintain situational awareness.
Establish standardized communication protocols. Pilots within each market should communicate regularly, report positions, and coordinate coverage to avoid congestion and collisions.
Conduct regular safety meetings. News helicopter operators and media companies should meet periodically to discuss near-misses, operational risks, and best practices.

Visual and Technical Enhancements

Paint obvious rotor stripe patterns. Rotor blades painted with high-contrast patterns are more easily visible from above, reducing the risk of mid-air collisions.
Install bright strobe lights. Position high-intensity strobe lights for maximum visibility to other aircraft.
Implement modern collision avoidance technology. Equip helicopters with ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast), TCAS (traffic collision avoidance system), or similar technologies that provide real-time traffic alerts.
Deploy drone detection and avoidance systems. As UAS traffic increases, news helicopters need technology to detect and avoid drones operating in their vicinity.

Maintenance and Inspection Safety Standards

Exceed minimum maintenance standards. Operators should implement safe inspection protocols that exceed the FAA's minimum requirements.
Comply with all manufacturer service bulletins. Failing to implement safety-related service bulletins is indefensible and may constitute gross negligence.
Maintain comprehensive maintenance records. Detailed documentation enables accountability and helps identify recurring problems before they lead to accidents.

Our Firm’s Mission: Preventing the Next Crash

Our firm's approach to aviation litigation goes beyond individual case results. We are committed to exposing and eliminating product defects, holding negligent operators accountable, and making the world safer one case at a time.

Through aggressive litigation and public advocacy, we work to drive industry-wide reforms that prevent future deaths from the lessons learned from tragedies like the WBTV crash.

This ethical differentiator sets our practice apart: we measure success not only by the compensation we secure for families, but also by the safety improvements our cases generate across the aviation industry to help save future lives.

Why Choose Robb & Robb for News Helicopter Crash Cases?

We bring unmatched experience, resources, and results to news helicopter crash litigation. Our credentials include the following.

Record-setting results in helicopter crash cases:

$126.28 million judgment in the TTWN case (2025), one of the largest wrongful death settlements in news helicopter crash history
$350 million jury verdict, the largest helicopter crash verdict in U.S. history
$116 million jury verdict, the largest wrongful death verdict in New York State history arising from a helicopter crash
$100 million settlement (2024), the largest publicly reported single-fatality settlement following a Grand Canyon helicopter crash
$100 million pre-trial settlement, the largest personal injury settlement stemming from a medical helicopter crash
We were honored to represent the family of NBA legend Kobe Bryant for the helicopter crash that killed Kober and his daughter Gianna

We Wrote the Book on Helicopter Crash Litigation

National reputation and high-profile representation: Attorney Gary C. Robb authored Helicopter Crash Litigation, the authoritative legal treatise used by aviation attorneys and courts nationwide. He has represented high-profile clients, including Vanessa Bryant, in the wrongful death litigation following the helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

Commitment to aviation safety reform: Our litigation has compelled manufacturers to install crash-resistant fuel systems, forced operators to improve maintenance practices, and driven safety changes that protect pilots, crew members, and the public.

Experience with complex aviation and insurance litigation: We understand the technical, industry, and insurance issues unique to news helicopter operations, and we have the resources to take on well-funded corporate defendants and their insurers.

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Robb & Robb in the News

Many cases handled successfully by the Firm’s attorneys have received national and international media attention, including featured stories and broadcasts on ABC News, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the CBS Evening News, BBC, Good Morning America, NBC’s Today Show, CBS This Morning, U.S. News & World Report, CNN.com, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The National Law Journal, Lawyers Weekly USA, BNA Reporter, Law 360, Business Insider, The Missouri Lawyers Weekly, and The Kansas City Star, the Miami Herald, Las Vegas Review – Journal, as well as numerous news platforms posted and televised around the world.

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Contact Us Today to Consult a News Helicopter Crash Attorney

If you have lost a loved one in a news helicopter crash, or if you are a surviving crew member who has suffered catastrophic injuries, time is critical. Evidence deteriorates, memories fade, and statutes of limitation impose strict deadlines.

Robb & Robb is prepared to conduct an immediate, independent investigation, preserve crucial evidence, and pursue full accountability on your behalf. Our firm handles cases nationwide.

We understand the devastating impact of losing a pilot, photographer, or reporter in the line of duty. Our firm approaches every case with the technical proficiency, legal skill, and compassion that families deserve during the most difficult time of their lives.

Call (877) 749-4999 or reach us online for your free initial case assessment with our aviation team today.

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Unsurpassed Record of Success

We have secured over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements, becoming aviation’s most influential safety advocate. Our record includes the two highest U.S. helicopter crash jury verdicts—$350 million and $116 million—and we are the only firm to recover $100 million or more for a single aviation death or injury in five separate jurisdictions nationwide.
Family Led, Nationally Recognized

Led by two generations of one family – husband and wife Founding Partners Gary C. Robb and Anita Porte Robb, their son and Partner Andrew C. Robb along with his wife, Partner Brittany Sanders Robb, this law firm is nationally recognized as the leader in aviation litigation. Guided by integrity, courage, and accountability, they have become a moral force, driving modern aviation reform and safer skies nationwide.
Leading Authority in Aviation Law
With decades of focused aviation litigation experience, this firm brings unparalleled knowledge to the most complex cases. Founding Partner Gary C. Robb authored the authoritative text on helicopter law, and the firms’ attorneys are widely regarded as the foremost experts in the field. No law firm is better equipped to navigate the technical, regulatory, and legal challenges that aviation cases is demand.