Trial Magazine

The flight crew of an Air Methods Corp. medical transportation aircraft, a 1982 Beechcraft King Air B200 known as “Kilo Charlie,” was dispatched to pick up a patient in Montrose, Colo. After the crew picked up the patient and departed for Denver, the aircraft depressurized and the oxygen masks deployed. David Jepsen suffered severe headaches, nausea, vertigo, and tinnitus as a result of the incident. Air Methods Corp. later allegedly determined that the depressurization incident occurred because of a valve failure and improper maintenance.

Approximately three years later, Jepsen was aboard another transport aircraft that slowly depressurized during flight due to a power draw issue. After the second depressurization incident, he suffered sleep issues, anxiety, and physical pain.

Jepsen sued Air Methods, LLC, alleging negligence. The plaintiff asserted that the defendant had supplied an aircraft that was not airworthy and failed to properly maintain it.

The jury awarded $395,000.

Citation: Jepsen v. Air Methods, LLC, No. 21CV31615 (Colo. Dist. Ct. Arapahoe Cnty. Jan. 10, 2025).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Murray Ogborn and Kylie M. Schmidt, both of Denver.