Helicopters are among the most versatile and useful aircraft ever invented. Their ability to hover, land in tight spaces, and fly into areas inaccessible by other means of transportation have made them indispensable for a wide range of purposes and communities. From their use during wartime to their ability to transport critical supplies during natural disasters, they have proven their value time and time again. Unfortunately, the years when they most relied upon parallel the time when asbestos was seeing its greatest use and the carcinogenic material was incorporated into many of the helicopter’s parts and components. As a result, those who manufactured helicopters, as well as those who maintained and repaired them and those who flew them, were at risk of being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other serious asbestos-related diseases.
About Helicopters
Helicopters are considered rotorcraft. They use lift and thrust supplied by horizontally spinning rotors to take off and land vertically and to hover and fly forward, backward, and laterally, either quickly or slowly. Their unique ability to perform these maneuvers, as well as the much smaller areas that they require for landing, has made them invaluable in a wide range of applications and circumstances. They have been referred to as the “Swiss Army knife of aviation,” with a history of performing at least 44 distinct missions ranging from transporting cargo or corporate executives to acting as air ambulances conducting rescue missions, from avalanche control to construction.[1]
While airplanes excel in long-range travel and speed, helicopters offer a versatility that has made them suitable for many specialized functions. They can operate in congested and remote areas where runways are non-existent, as well as confined spaces and rugged terrain, helipads, rooftops, and even moving ships. They can move nimbly, even evading enemy fire in combat situations, while also being able to hover at a fixed point in the air. Their interiors and exterior equipment can easily be outfitted for whatever application is needed, from flying executives in luxury to attaching spray nozzles for fertilizing crops or applying pesticides to special attachments for lifting heavy cargo. They are also designed to operate safely in adverse weather conditions, making them particularly useful for disaster relief operations. Their agility and flexibility of the helicopter has made them an integral part of military and aviation history.[2]
The History of the Helicopter
The history of the helicopter – or of the theory of the helicopter – dates back to the year 1100, when the Chinese flying top was first introduced. Leonardo da Vinci was fascinated by the idea of vertical flight, and in 1483 designed the helical airscrew. In the centuries that followed, inventors sketched designs, including a feather model, a steam-powered model, Paul Cornu’s man-carrying helicopter designed in 1907, and Juan del la Cierva’s autogiro designed in 1923. After all of these fascinating attempts, the first successful helicopter flight took place in 1936, when Professor Henrich Focke flew the Fa 61in Germany. The helicopter was subsequently used in military applications in World War II by the Germans, and three years later, the first practical helicopter in the United States, the VS-300, was introduced by aviation designer Igor Sikorsky.[3]
The Vought-Sikorsky VS-300 was the first multi-engine helicopter. Having two engines allowed it to stay airborne for 30 minutes at a time, and Sikorsky continued making improvements, leading to the Sikorsky XR-4, which was mass-produced for use by the U.S. Air Force. By 1942, the British Government had commissioned the construction of its own version of a helicopter for use in the war; though it was a single-rotor model and very slow, it was useful for rescuing downed pilots and other personnel behind enemy lines. In 1943, the American Helicopter Company was founded with the mission of designing and building military helicopters. Its first machine was the YH-13 Sioux, a medical evacuation helicopter that flew at the end of World War II and throughout the Korean War. That war was notable for the extensive use of helicopters, including the Bell H-12 Sioux, the Sikorsky H-5, the Hiller OH-23 Raven, and the Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw.[3]
In the post-war years, helicopters began being used for applications outside of the military, and Sikorsky Aircraft introduced the S-51, which could stay airborne for up to four hours. Equipped with a fully enclosed cabin, it was built for passenger comfort and safety. At the same time, Bell Aircraft Corporation designed and built the first turbine-powered helicopter, the Bell 47, which could reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. It remained in production until 1974.[3]
Military applications continued to be a primary use of helicopters, and in 1953, the first helicopter designed for anti-submarine warfare was introduced by Westland Aircraft. Equipped with sonar and other anti-submarine equipment, it could be carried on board ships and was used in the Falklands War and the Gulf War. A more maneuverable model of helicopter, the coaxial, was introduced in 1960 by Soviet engineer Nikolai Kamov, whose design introduced rotors that rotated in opposite directions. More innovations came in the 1960s and 1970s when the Bell UH-1 Iroquois (known as the Huey) entered military service. Powered by a single turboshaft engine, the Huey was one of the world’s most famed helicopters and was used extensively in the Vietnam War.[3]
Helicopter innovation continued through the late 1960s and early 1970s, with Sikorsky Aircraft introducing the S-61R Sea King, which was the first helicopter specifically designed for maritime operations. In 1976, Eurocopter (now Airbus) introduced the Super Puma, a helicopter powered by two turboshaft engines that is capable of carrying up to two dozen passengers. By the mid-1980s, when asbestos was no longer being used to construct aircraft, Sikorsky Aircraft introduced the S-70 for use by the U.S. Army. Capable of flying up to 196 miles per hour, it is used for transportation, attack, and evacuations.[3]
How Was Asbestos Used in Helicopters?
It has been public knowledge since the 1980s that asbestos is a toxic material that has been linked to malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other chronic and fatal illnesses, but in the years between the 1930s and the 1980s, it was thought of as a “miracle mineral.” Inexpensive, widely accessible, and known to provide durability, heat and fire resistance, and strength, it was conventional wisdom that it be included in applications of all kinds, especially for those requiring extra safety. Unaware of its dangers, the U.S. military and military around the world ordered that it be incorporated in everything from ships and planes to barracks and base infrastructure. Though many of the companies that included asbestos in their products were aware of the material’s dangers, they kept the information quiet to continue earning a profit. Their silence resulted in many, many deaths and disabilities, and the same use of asbestos that applied to military aircraft held true of those used for civilian purposes years later.
When it came to incorporating asbestos into parts, helicopters were no exception. Because it was lightweight, fireproof, and heat-resistant, the material was used in helicopter insulation and hydraulic lines, as well as the engines that powered them. Though the asbestos companies would likely have used the material anyway, documents submitted as evidence in a range of court proceedings show that the government required its use anywhere that high temperature and fluid resistance was an issue.[4]
No matter which manufacturer was building helicopters, many of the parts used in the craft contained asbestos. Products that posed a risk of asbestos exposure included:
- Engine insulation
- Electrical wiring
- Exhaust gaskets
- Brake systems and lining
- Cockpit heating systems
- Engine heat shields
- Torque Valves
- Cargo bay insulation
- Seals
- Fuselage
- Landing gear
- Sealants
- Adhesives
Not only were many of the products used to build helicopters made with asbestos, but mechanics working on the rotorcraft were frequently outfitted with protective clothing and blankets that contained asbestos and with asbestos-containing replacement parts and supplies to use during maintenance and repairs. Even some of the tools used to accomplish repairs contained asbestos.
Who Was Exposed to Asbestos Installed in Helicopters?
Because asbestos was used in the construction of the helicopter body and parts, as well as their engines, electrical systems, and insulation, the individuals who were at the greatest risk of asbestos exposure from the rotorcraft were those involved in manufacturing them and the mechanics responsible for maintaining and repairing them. The most basic operational processes put Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Army mechanics at risk of disturbing the carcinogenic fibers that, once airborne, were easily inhaled and could become stuck in the cells of the lining of the pleural or peritoneal cavities. The inflammation and cell death caused by this foreign, carcinogenic material led to scarring, mutations, and the development and spread of deadly tumors.
Though military mechanics were at the greatest risk of asbestos exposure from repairing and maintaining helicopters, as the versatile form of transportation expanded into corporate, government, and civilian use, the risk to personnel outside of the military expanded as well. Those at risk included:
- Aircraft handlers
- Aircraft mechanics
- Aerospace engineers
- Sikorsky and Bell employees
- Firefighters
- Electricians
- Communications repair workers
- Supply chain workers
- Navy veterans
- Air Force veterans
- Coast Guard veterans
- Army veterans
In addition to the personnel who worked directly with helicopters and their parts, there was also a risk posed to those individuals’ spouses and children. There have been a significant number of cases of these individuals being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and other diseases following secondary exposure to asbestos carried home on their loved one’s hair, skin, or clothing after their occupational exposure to the asbestos in the helicopters they built, flew, or worked on.
Lawsuits Filed by People Exposed to Asbestos in Helicopters
Many veterans and others who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases after exposure to asbestos in helicopters have taken legal action seeking compensation and justice for the harm that they’ve suffered. Some notable examples include:
- Billy and Shirley Dickson filed suit against Bell Helicopter Textron, accusing the company of exposing him to asbestos and causing his malignant mesothelioma. Mr. Dickson was diagnosed with the terminal cancer in his early 70s after years of working as a mechanical engineer for the company. According to evidence submitted at trial, from 1962 to 1973, he designed enclosures for heat-testing helicopter components that incorporated asbestos insulation boards. The jury agreed that the company was grossly negligent and awarded the couple $8.8 million in damages, including actual and punitive damages.[5]
- The family of a Navy veteran who worked for three decades as a St. Louis County Police Department helicopter pilot and detective sued helicopter manufacturer Morton International after he died of asbestos-related lung cancer. Gustave Sahm’s family referenced specific asbestos-containing products for helicopters including brakes, brake parts, and O-rings in their case against the manufacturer.
- The widow of a Navy mechanic who died of lung cancer has filed suit against Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, citing his exposure to asbestos when he worked as a helicopter mechanic onboard the USS Midway, Enterprise, New Orleans, and Ranger from 1972 until 1981. His work involved repairing Sikorsky SH-3 helicopters, which she says contained component parts made with asbestos.[6]
What to do if You Were Exposed to Asbestos from Helicopters
Although asbestos has not been used in helicopter manufacturing for over 40 years, and your exposure may have occurred decades ago, diseases like malignant mesothelioma linked to asbestos have very long latency periods, and symptoms of the disease may not appear for 50 or even 60 years after exposure. If you’ve been exposed to asbestos through manufacturing, piloting, or working on helicopters, it’s understandable to be concerned.
While you can’t prevent an asbestos-related disease from developing once exposed, you can take proactive steps to educate yourself about the symptoms. Doing so will prompt you to seek medical care early so that you can get diagnosed and begin treatment as early as possible. It’s also a good idea to inform your healthcare provider about your asbestos exposure so they can monitor your health appropriately and consider asbestos-related conditions in their evaluations.
Compensation for Those Affected by Asbestos from Helicopters
Receiving a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease can be overwhelming, but support and resources are available. If you’re a veteran, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers valuable assistance for those exposed to asbestos during their service, and many VA treatment centers specialize in care for mesothelioma and lung cancer. You may also qualify for special disability compensation and benefits.
If your exposure occurred outside of military service or as a civilian, you may also be eligible to pursue legal action against the asbestos companies responsible for your exposure. Consulting an experienced asbestos attorney is the best way to assess your options. These knowledgeable professionals can help identify the sources of your exposure based on your service and occupational history and guide you through the process of seeking compensation. Additionally, you may be able to file claims with asbestos trust funds established by companies that declared bankruptcy due to asbestos-related liabilities.
While a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease is daunting, it’s crucial to act quickly. Each state has a statute of limitations that limits the time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. Once this deadline passes, you may lose the opportunity to seek justice and compensation. Contacting a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible will give you the best chance to explore your options and take action.
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