Data from 2017 and 2018 clearly showed a spike in fatal accidents in the helicopter industry, with 13 total accidents in the two-month period of October and November across the two years. The USHST noted that many of these fatal accidents involved visibility issues, such as controlled flight into terrain or striking an object or wire while flying at a low level. The team also identified that personal/private pilots, utilities and construction operations, and training flights were the three segments of the industry that needed to be more cautious, accounting for 10 of the 13 fatal accidents during October and November of the two-year period.

“Over the past three decades, the number of fatal helicopter accidents has been decreasing, but bumps in the road still occur month to month. If we are more aware of them, we can prevent them, and we can save lives,” said the USHST.