By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- Bernalillo County has agreed to a $2 million settlement to resolve two lawsuits filed by families of first responders killed in a July 16, 2022 helicopter crash.
- The crash killed Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Larry Koren, Deputy Michael Levison, and Lt. Fred Beers, along with Bernalillo County Fire Rescue Captain Matthew King.
- Lawsuits alleged the crash was entirely preventable and resulted from poor maintenance of the Vietnam-era Bell UH-1H helicopter, which had documented engine fatigue cracks.
- The National Transportation Safety Board investigation determined engine failure caused the crash as the aircraft returned from providing bucket drops on the East Mesa Fire.
- The settlement was reached June 19, 2026; the county’s Metro Air Support Unit was restarted in December 2023 after remaining halted following the crash.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Bernalillo County agreed on June 19 to pay $2 million to settle lawsuits filed by families of four first responders killed in a July 16, 2022 helicopter crash in northern New Mexico.
The settlement resolves two lawsuits filed in state district court: one filed by the family of Deputy Michael Levison and a second filed by the families of Lt. Fred Beers and Captain Matthew King. The $2 million settlement will be divided equally among all plaintiffs.
The four men who perished in the crash were Undersheriff Larry Koren, Deputy Michael Levison, Lt. Fred Beers, and Captain Matthew King. The crew was returning from providing bucket drops on the 75-acre East Mesa Fire when the helicopter crashed approximately 25 miles south of Las Vegas.
The lawsuits alleged that the crash was entirely preventable and resulted from poor maintenance of the Bell UH-1H helicopter. One lawsuit stated that the county and sheriff’s office knew the aircraft possessed numerous engine fatigue cracks prior to the crash.
A National Transportation Safety Board investigation determined that an engine failure caused the helicopter’s sudden loss of power at approximately 500 to 600 feet in the air, causing the aircraft to plummet. The investigation noted that the main generator had been removed from the engine. Low altitude and flying into a setting sun may have contributed to an unsuccessful autorotation following the total loss of engine power.
Elizabeth Harrison, an attorney for the Levison family, stated that the settlement represents progress toward ensuring future safety for deputies. Daniel Levison, Michael Levison’s father, stated that while he accepts the settlement, he believes significantly greater damages might have prompted the county to implement policy changes.
Levison stated his belief that ongoing issues within the Metro Air Support Unit remain unresolved and that decisions made regarding the program subsequently were intended to avoid scrutiny.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Metro Air Support Unit initially halted all operations following the crash because Undersheriff Koren was the agency’s sole helicopter pilot. The program was restarted in December 2023 after the agency purchased a new helicopter.
In December 2025, Sheriff John Allen removed Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue personnel from the Metro Air Support Unit due to a policy permitting firefighters to smoke marijuana while off-duty. Allen cited the crash as the primary reason for the restructuring, stating the sheriff’s office was obligated to rebuild the unit appropriately.