Helicopter Safety | UK Fatal Accident Causes

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Fatal Accident Causes

Taken from a study of the Griffin Helicopters accident database since 09 Jan 1997 the study comprises a review of 405 rotary wing accidents and incidents involving UK registered aircraft of which 386 involved helicopters and 40 were fatal.

UK Helicopter Fatal Accident Causes+/-

Fatal Accidents [By First Event]
Loss Of Control IMC (25.00%) 10
Spatial Disorientation (10.00%) 4
Drivetrain Failure (7.50%) 3
Other Weather Related (7.50%) 3
Mast Bumping (5.00%) 2
Undetermined [Investigation Complete] (5.00%) 2
Under Investigation (5.00%) 2
Wire Strike (5.00%) 2
Carb Icing (2.50%) 1
Distraction (2.50%) 1
Engine Failure (2.50%) 1
Engine Power Loss or Variation (2.50%) 1
External Load Hit Tail Rotor (2.50%) 1
Airframe Failure [Break Up] (2.50%) 1
Maintenance Error (2.50%) 1
Overweight (2.50%) 1
Rotor System Failure (2.50%) 1
SAR Specific Incident (2.50%) 1
Windows Misted (2.50%) 1
Main Rotor Struck Tailboom (2.50%) 1
Total 40

A graph of UK Helicopter Fatal Accident Causes.+/-

CountOfCause


Loss Of Control IMC	10
Spatial Disorientation	4
Drivetrain Failure	3
Other Weather Related	3
Mast Bumping	2
Undetermined [Investigation Complete]	2
Under Investigation	2
Wire Strike	2
Carb Icing	1
Distraction	1
Engine Failure	1
Engine Power Loss or Variation	1
External Load Hit Tail Rotor	1
Airframe Failure [Break Up]	1
Maintenance Error	1
Overweight	1
Rotor System Failure	1
SAR Specific Incident	1
Windows Misted	1
Main Rotor Struck Tailboom	1