Abstract
Night conditions constrain the operations of a helicopter. Helicopter crews that fly at night have limited landing possibilities in times of emergency and suffer from limited visual cues during operations. This study compares the underlying causes and factors that differentiate daytime and nighttime helicopter accidents. From the US National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) online database, 4,755 helicopter accidents were selected for which the characteristics of day and night flights were compared. The number of fatal accidents occurring at night was significantly higher than during the daytime (χ2 = 95.04, df = 1, p < .001). Helicopter accidents that occur at night also show significantly fewer engine failures and autorotations but significantly more weather-related causes. The relative absence of engine failures at night is partly explained by the absence of specific helicopter operations. The combination of night flights and adverse weather conditions is shown to be particularly fatal in accidents. It is concluded that pilots require more conservative planning particularly in the vicinity of adverse weather systems.
Published Version
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