FAA Rotorcraft Monthly Accident Briefing - February

U.S. Helicopter Safety Team,

Attached is the Rotorcraft Monthly Accident Briefing for February 2020.

Monthly Summary

Totals:  7 accidents, 0 fatal accidents, 0 fatalities

-This was the 2nd consecutive February and 4th February in the last 10 years without a fatal accident.

Cumulative FY20 Summary, Oct-Feb

FY20, Cumulative Totals:  35 accidents, 9 fatal accidents, 27 fatalities

Accidents:

-The estimated accident rate for Oct-Feb was 2.59-2.94 accidents per 100K flight hours.

-The accident count (35) tied for second lowest for the Oct-Feb timeframe in the last 38 FYs.

Fatal Accidents:

-The estimated fatal accident rate for Oct-Feb was 0.67-0.76 fatal accidents per 100K flight hours.

-The count of fatal accidents (9) is identical to Oct-Feb of FY19.

-26% of the accidents that have occurred so far in the FY were fatal, still trending above the recent historical averages of 16-17% but lower than the 32% observed for Oct-Jan.

Fatalities:

-The estimated fatality rate for Oct-Feb was 2.00-2.27 per 100K flight hours.

U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST)

-Goal:  Reduce the 5 year average fatal accident rate to 0.55 per 100K flight hours by 2025

-5 year, 2016-2020 Rate (In Progress):  0.65

-2020 Rate (Jan – Feb):  0.44

Lee Roskop

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

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