The family of a helicopter pilot who died while assisting with wildfire suppression in California has reached a $15 million settlement with the company responsible for maintaining the aircraft. The incident occurred on August 19, 2020, when Michael Fournier, a contract pilot supporting Cal Fire operations, was killed in a crash while dropping water on the Hills Fire in Fresno County.
Fournier was operating a Bell UH-1H helicopter over rugged terrain approximately ten miles south of Coalinga when the aircraft suddenly went down. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the crash was caused by a failure in the helicopter’s hydraulic system. Prior to the incident, Fournier had radioed that he was experiencing problems with the hydraulics.
At the time, Fournier was working for Guardian Helicopters, a company under contract with Cal Fire to provide aerial firefighting services. The lawsuit was initiated by Fournier’s wife and two daughters against Rotorcraft Support, Inc., the company responsible for maintaining the Bell UH-1H helicopter, and Arrow-Falcon Exporters, the refurbisher of the aircraft. The suit alleged negligence and wrongful death, citing a failure in the helicopter’s hydraulic system as the cause of the crash. The settlement was paid by Rotorcraft Support.
The Fournier family, through their attorneys, said the lawsuit was about obtaining accountability for Michael’s death. Attorney Andrew Robb, who represented the family, said the settlement provided the answers and accountability the family had sought. The family has declined to make any public comments.
Fournier’s death underscores the risks faced by air crews who support wildfire suppression efforts across the West. Wildland firefighting missions—particularly those involving aerial drops in mountainous terrain—pose extraordinary challenges, with equipment reliability playing a critical role in mission safety.
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