Northrop Grumman lost its appeal with the state Department of Labor and Industries and must pay a fine for three safety violations in the accidental death of William Dayton on Feb. 7, 2005 at Nichols Brothers Boats Builders in Freeland.

The state Department of Labor and Industries cited the company for three serious safety violations with penalties totaling $1,500 after investigating the accident.

Dayton, 22, died when a drone helicopter fell on him from eight feet above the yard floor while workers were finishing work on the X-Craft, the high-speed experimental warship built for the Navy by Nichols.

Northrop Grumman is the manufacturer of the helicopter drone that fell.

The company was fined for three violations; $550 because its employee who was directing the Nichols crew did not correct the hazardous lift; $650 because its employee did not intervene to prevent the helicopter from being tilted so that the pull was more than 20 degrees off the axis of the lifting bolt; and $300 because the eyebolt used in the lift was bent and was not replaced prior to the lift.

A representative from Northrop Grumman was on site at the Freeland boatyard at the time of the mishap.

The agreement also states that by agreeing to the findings, Northrop “neither denies nor admits violating the provisions of the Washington Industrial Safety Act, and that the agreement may not be used in any other proceeding except those instituted by Labor and Industries.”

The company was represented by attorney Bruce Cross of the Seattle firm of Perkins Coie. The state was represented by Beverly Norwood-Goetz of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

Gayle Saran can be reached at 221-5300 or gsaran@southwhidbeyrecord.com.