US helicopter accident rate continues downward trend
The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) has released data showing that the accident rate in the US civil helicopter industry has continued its downward trend.
The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) has released data showing that the accident rate in the US civil helicopter industry has continued its downward trend. IHST said that the preliminary data show that in 2016 the helicopter accident rate was 3.19 accidents per 100,000 flight hours, whereas in 2015 that figure was 3.67 accidents per 100,000 flight hours.
The figure represents a 13-per-cent decrease, which helps to maintain the helicopter industry’s improving safety record. Fatal accidents remain statistically the same, said IHST, but were significantly lower than the goal set by the US Helicopter Safety Team.
When compared to 2013, IHST’s data suggests that accidents have decreased by 27 per cent, whilst fatal accidents have decreased by 43 per cent.