A tragic helicopter crash in the Hudson River has led to serious allegations against a helicopter repair company in California. On the same day that the helicopter accident occurred, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles charged Jared Michael Swensen, 48, of Ventura, with fraud. Swensen is accused of selling and repairing helicopter parts that were close to the end of their service life but falsely labeled as new or only slightly used.
Swensen operated his business, Light Helicopter Depot, at Oxnard Airport. He claimed to have certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that allowed him to inspect and repair aircraft. His company advertised its services with the slogan, “We specialize in bringing older and timed out aircraft back to life.” However, prosecutors allege that Swensen misrepresented the condition of the parts he sold.
According to the indictment, the parts were often listed as having only a few hundred service hours left or being brand new. In reality, these parts were nearing the end of their safe operational limits. This kind of deception could have contributed to dangerous situations, including potential crashes.
The indictment also states that Swensen and his company falsified maintenance logbooks, altered sale orders, and created fake FAA release certificates to show that the aircraft were airworthy. He charged customers significant fees for his services, with bills reaching as high as $23,700.
The investigation into Swensen’s practices was carried out by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the FAA. If convicted, Swensen faces severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and up to 15 years for each count related to aircraft parts fraud. His business could also face hefty fines, potentially reaching millions of dollars.
As of now, Swensen has not entered a plea regarding the charges. The case raises serious concerns about safety in the aviation industry and the importance of integrity in aircraft maintenance and repair.