FAA Rotorcraft Accident Briefing - December 2019

U.S. Helicopter Safety Team,

Attached is the Rotorcraft Monthly Accident Briefing for December 2019.

Monthly Summary

Totals: 7 accidents, 3 fatal accidents, 10 fatalities

-December had gone without a fatal accident for 3 consecutive FYs (FY17-19) prior to the 3 fatal events in FY20.

-The 3 fatal accidents during the month were all Part 135 operations (1 each from Offshore, Helicopter Air Ambulance, Air Tour).

-The 10 fatalities were the highest total for a December since FY88, the 4th highest for a December in the last 38 FYs, and the highest monthly fatality total since Nov 2018.

Cumulative FY20 Summary, Oct-Dec

FY20, Cumulative Totals: 23 accidents, 7 fatal accidents, 16 fatalities

Accidents:

-The estimated accident rate for Oct-Dec was 2.77-3.14 accidents per 100K flight hours.

-The count of accidents (23) lags the same time period in FY19 (19), and slightly lags the same time period in FY18 (22).

-Over one third of accidents so far in the FY were Personal/Private operations (35%, 8 of 23). This is twice as high as the next highest operation (Instructional/Training, 17%, 4 of 23).

Fatal Accidents:

-The estimated fatal accident rate for Oct-Dec was 0.84-0.96 fatal accidents per 100K flight hours.

-The count of fatal accidents (7) is identical to the same time period in FY19.

-30% of the accidents that have occurred so far in the FY were fatal.

Fatalities:

-The estimated fatality rate for Oct-Dec was 1.92-2.18 per 100K flight hours.

-The 16 fatalities so far in the FY were the highest total for Oct-Dec since FY13.

Lee Roskop

Safety Management Section, AIR-682 Rotorcraft Standards Branch, Policy & Innovation Division 817-222-5337 lee.roskop@faa.gov

We value your feedback. Click here to send us your feedback.