A comparative statistical analysis of global trends in civil helicopter accidents in the U.S., the EU, and the CIS

Abstract

With helicopter operations increasing worldwide for varying usage and purposes, it is important to identify changes in helicopter accident trends. This paper studies the trends in civilian helicopter accidents in the United States, the European Union, and the Commonwealth of Independent States, and evaluates helicopter flight safety. Comparative analysis was performed, focusing on statistics and accident reports from Federal Aviation Administration, International Helicopter Safety Foundation, United States Helicopter Safety Team, National Transportation Safety Board, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and Interstate Aviation Committee. The overall helicopter accident trends by flight time, engine type, and phase of flight were considered. The differences among the groups were identified, and the flight safety of helicopter was compared with that of other types of aircraft. In conclusion, gas-turbine engine helicopters showed a significant increase in the number of accidents. Regarding phase of flight, takeoff, landing, maneuvering, and en-route reported the most number of accidents. This study emphasizes the need for more profound research on improving helicopter flight safety by analyzing the global trend of helicopter accidents.