USHST Monthly Safety Report for Jan 2025

US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST)

Monthly Safety Report

January 2025

Fatal Accident Rate:  0.62 (+.07) above goal of 0.55 fatal accidents per 100K hrs by 2025

USHST Vision:  A civil US registered helicopter community without fatal accidents

“Safety by the Numbers” (Monthly Metrics):

Days since last Fatal helicopter accident:  23 Days : 21 Hours : 44 Minutes : 56 Seconds

Fatal Accident Rate (5yr avg)(CY2020-24) 0.62 Fatal Accidents per 100K Flight Hours

Fatal Accident Rate (CY2024) 13 Fatal Accidents per 100K Flight Hours

Helicopter – Safety Enhancement (H-SE) Details

H-SE 2023-04, Improve fatigue awareness and risk mitigation of scheduling factors leading to fatigue

 Research studies have shown that:

· When we have sleep debt, we systematically underestimate the degree of our own alertness deficits.

· When we are fatigued, our perception about risk changes, and we are willing to accept more risk.

· Thresholds related to how much fatigue risk is acceptable will vary from person-to-person and may be biased by external factors related to production goals.

 In this project, the USHST will develop guidance material for operators to establish a Fatigue Risk Management Program based on a quantitative objective framework to identify scenarios associated with elevated fatigue risk and to aid in the consistent and reliable execution of effective risk controls. Guidance material will take the form of a white paper to educate operators about the need for an FRMP; a GAP analysis tool to evaluate FRMP maturity; and a how to guide to establish an FRMP. 

Please refer to USHST.org to view this entire safety report.

For any questions regarding the information within this notice please contact Clarke Pleasants, Assistant Professor of Aerospace, MTSU, at 615-898-2054 or email at clarke.pleasants@mtsu.edu