US Helicopter Company Faces Lawsuit from Savoura CEO’s Estate Over 2019 Quebec Crash
A U.S. helicopter manufacturer stated on Saturday their intention to contest a $50-million wrongful death lawsuit brought by the estate of a Quebec greenhouse magnate regarding a fatal crash in 2019.
President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company, David Smith, released a statement expressing the company’s readiness to address discrepancies related to the crash that resulted in the deaths of Savoura CEO Stéphane Roy and his teenage son.
Robinson is the producer of the R44 helicopter involved in the Quebec crash in July 2019, which tragically claimed the lives of Roy, 55, and his son Justin Roy Séguin as they returned from a fishing trip. The father and son were reported missing on July 11, 2019, a day after they did not return home to Ste-Sophie, Que., north of Montreal.
The crashed helicopter was located in a wooded area near Lac Valtrie, Que., approximately 220 kilometres northwest of Montreal, 14 days after the disappearance of the Roys.
“Robinson Helicopter (RHC) takes all accidents very seriously, including the tragic 2019 Lac Valtrie accident that took the lives of Mr. Roy and his son,” stated Smith. “RHC is devoted to ensuring that similar accidents are averted in the future.”
He added that the company aims to clarify all the facts surrounding the incident.
Related Stories
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada conducted an investigation and released a report in March 2021, identifying a main rotor blade failure as a significant factor in the crash.
Smith mentioned that Robinson Helicopter Company took part in the accident investigation, claiming to have provided data contradicting the TSB’s conclusions, particularly regarding carburetor icing leading to engine failure being disregarded.
“We believe the TSB report is flawed due to the selective presentation of facts,” declared Smith. “RHC is open to a comprehensive review of the evidence, emphasizing carburetor icing prevention.”
Attempts to obtain a comment from the TSB on Saturday were unsuccessful.
Smith revealed that the company is eager to address inconsistencies in Quebec Superior Court.
The lawsuit was initially filed in California in July 2021, but Robinson Helicopter sought to transfer the case to Quebec, a move upheld in January 2025 by the California Court of Appeal.
As per the Quebec filing, the estate is seeking $25 million in compensatory damages and another $25 million in punitive damages. A lawsuit filed in Quebec Superior Court on Thursday implicates Robinson Helicopter Company Inc. of negligence in the two fatalities.
Daniel Roy, Stéphane Roy’s brother and estate executor, expressed on Friday that the family is determined to uncover the truth.
“Our goal is to prevent such tragedies and hold Robinson accountable,” he emphasized in a statement.
