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Products Liability Keyed Owen, 8th Ed.
Kerstetter v. Pacific Scientific Co.
Citation:
210 F.3d 431 (2000)Facts
In 1995, Navy instructor pilot Lt. David Joseph Huber died during a familiarization flight with a student pilot when he was inadvertently ejected from a T-34C aircraft. The ejection occurred when his pilot restraint system (PRS), manufactured by Pacific Scientific, released without command. A Navy investigation concluded that a possible cause was contact between the aircraft control stick grip and the rotary buckle that releases the restraint belts. The Navy had been involved in extensive testing and approval of the T-34C and its PRS from 1973 through 1982, identifying deficiencies and recommending corrections. By 1985, the Navy became aware of “uncommanded seat harness release” issues but took limited action, only instructing pilots to position harness buckles under life preservers. After Huber’s accident, a Navy official noted the PRS posed a “severe flight hazard.”
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