USHST Monthly Safety Report for February 2025

US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST)

Monthly Safety Report

February 2025

 

USHST Vision:  A civil registered helicopter community without fatal accidents

Days since last Fatal helicopter accident:  50 Days : 22 Hours : 34 Minutes : 56 Seconds

 

US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) Calendar Year Metrics

– The USHST began tracking its new goals for the CY2025-2029 (5 year) timeframe. The goals are by 14 CFR Operating Part, tracking the 5 year average fatal accident rates per 100K hours.

 

14 CFR Part	Baseline, CY2018-2022 (per 100K hours)	Goal, CY2025-2029 (per 100K hours)	Progress, CY2021-2025 (per 100K hours)
91	0.81	0.73 (10% reduction)	0.58
133	1.73	1.56 (10% reduction)	0.43
135	0.33	0.17 (50% reduction)	0.35
137	1.11	1.00 (10% reduction)	1.49

USHST uses the following as conditions for the fatal accidents included in rate calculations:  U.S. registered aircraft, Operating in the U.S./U.S. territories (includes offshore), Not operating as Public Aircraft (public use).

 

  

Helicopter – Safety Enhancement (H-SE) Details

 

H-SE 2023-05, Training on effects of adverse wind situations.

The goal of this H-SE is to better illustrate the hazards posed by adverse winds on rotorcraft performance, especially when operating at low airspeeds. As an example, similar, but unrelated efforts, have been undertaken in the fixedwing world around loss of control events and the use of Angle-of-Attack (AOA) indicators. Vertical flight operations at low airspeed are predictable when the air-circulation through the rotor system is able to maintain a steady-state. It can be visualized as a bubble of air circulating around the rotor system. If this bubble is disrupted, or “popped”, a corresponding loss of lift can result. This creates a performance scenario that is not indicated by any instruments and is not able to be planned through a chart, but rather is managed by the pilot through a combination of forethought, experience, knowledge of wind directions and intensity around the aircraft, distance from obstacles and power reserves available. Given that it is not currently possible to provide rotorcraft pilots with an indicator that shows an impending loss of lift, this H-SE seeks to promote effective training solutions for pilot decision making and more effective risk assessment during operations.

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