Helicopter Safety | UK Fatal Accident Causes

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Fatal Accident Causes

Taken from a study of the of the Griffin Helicopters accident database since 09 Jan 1997 the study comprises a review of 366 rotary wing accidents and incidents involving UK registered aircraft of which 348 involved helicopters and 35 were fatal.

UK Helicopter Fatal Accident Causes+/-

Fatal Accidents [By First Event]
Loss Of Control IMC (22.86%) 8
Under Investigation (11.43%) 4
Other Weather Related (8.57%) 3
Drivetrain Failure (5.71%) 2
Mast Bumping (5.71%) 2
Wire Strike (5.71%) 2
Spatial Disorientation (5.71%) 2
Rotor System Failure (2.86%) 1
Overweight (2.86%) 1
SAR Specific Incident (2.86%) 1
Airframe Failure [Break Up] (2.86%) 1
Main Rotor Struck Tailboom (2.86%) 1
Undetermined [Investigation Complete] (2.86%) 1
External Load Hit Tail Rotor (2.86%) 1
Engine Power Loss or Variation (2.86%) 1
Windows Misted (2.86%) 1
Distraction (2.86%) 1
Carb Icing (2.86%) 1
Maintenance Error (2.86%) 1
Total 35

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

CountOfCause


Loss Of Control IMC	8
Under Investigation	4
Other Weather Related	3
Drivetrain Failure	2
Mast Bumping	2
Wire Strike	2
Spatial Disorientation	2
Rotor System Failure	1
Overweight	1
SAR Specific Incident	1
Airframe Failure [Break Up]	1
Main Rotor Struck Tailboom	1
Undetermined [Investigation Complete]	1
External Load Hit Tail Rotor	1
Engine Power Loss or Variation	1
Windows Misted	1
Distraction	1
Carb Icing	1
Maintenance Error	1