Airplane Parts Manufacturer Ordered To Pay $27.7M To Man Injured In Crash

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Ramsey County jury awarded $27.7 to a Minnesota pilot who claimed faulty airplane parts contributed to a 2010 plane crash that left him with life-changing injuries.

According to a statement from attorneys, Mark Kedrowski was piloting a private plane that lost engine power, forcing him into an unpowered crash landing near Lake Elmo.

The plane was destroyed, and Kedrowski was left with debilitating injuries, including a below-the-knee amputation on his left leg, a fused ankle and severe injuries to his face and head. Attorneys say he required over 50 surgeries in all.

In a years-long lawsuit and a four-week trial in Ramsey County, Kedrowski alleged that airplane parts manufacturer Lycoming Engine's fuel pump malfunctioned, causing the crash. Lycoming denied any responsibility, saying Kedrowski lost control of the airplane during flight.

Attorneys say Kedrowski was once an impressive athlete, participating in triathlons, paddle boarding, biking, skiing and once qualifying for the Olympic trials in windsurfing.