Roy family files $50M lawsuit against Robinson Helicopter Company

Investing.com -- The family of the late Savoura CEO Stéphane Roy has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Robinson Helicopter Company, Inc., the U.S. manufacturer of the R44 helicopter involved in a fatal crash in July 2019. The crash resulted in the deaths of Stéphane Roy and his 15-year-old son, Justin. The announcement was made today by Daniel Roy, who is the executor of Stéphane Roy’s estate.

The lawsuit was initially filed in California on July 8, 2021. Robinson Helicopter Company attempted to move the case to Quebec, viewing it as a more favorable jurisdiction. However, in January 2025, the California Court of Appeal ruled that the case would proceed in Quebec.

Daniel Roy expressed his family’s determination to uncover the full truth about the tragic event that resulted in the loss of his brother and nephew. He pointed out that investigations by the Transportation Safety Board and independent experts have revealed significant negligence by Robinson Helicopter Company. He stressed that without accountability, similar tragedies could recur. The family has discovered several similar incidents involving Robinson aircraft and aims to prevent future tragedies and hold the company accountable.

Stéphane Roy and his son went missing on July 10, 2019, while returning from a fishing trip aboard a Robinson R44 helicopter. Their disappearance triggered a comprehensive two-week search involving the Canadian Armed Forces, Quebec Provincial Police, the Canadian Coast Guard, and hundreds of volunteers.

Daniel Roy stated that analyses by both the Transportation Safety Board and independent experts indicate gross negligence by the helicopter manufacturer. He pointed out that there’s no assurance that a similar tragedy won’t happen again. He also noted that numerous tragedies involving similar Robinson aircraft have occurred, including the one his brother was piloting.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada issued a report in March 2021, stating that the crash near Lake Valtrie in Quebec was due to the failure of a main rotor blade. To thoroughly investigate and identify preventive measures that should have been implemented, the Roy family hired Motley Rice, a leading U.S. aviation litigation firm, and private aviation experts.

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