LEARN how to recognize the early signs of uncontrolled flight
2024 Safety Stats for US Fatal Helicopter Accidents
The figures below represent data collected by the FAA and include all accidents that occurred in the United States (including offshore operations) by US-registered helicopters. All rates are per 100,000 flight hours.
FATAL ACCIDENT RATE: 0.44
Lowest on record for 25 years where flight hours are available
.44
0.44 is 14% lower than previous low of 0.51 in 2016
0.44 is 24% lower year over year from 2023’s rate of 0.58
FATAL ACCIDENT COUNT: 13 Lowest on record for 25 years
13
13 is 19% lower than previous low of 16 in 2016
13 is 24% lower year over year from 2023’s count of 17
15% 15%
15% FATAL ACCIDENTS BY INDUSTRY SECTOR 8%
23% 23%
Personal/Private (3 events) – 23% Aerial Application (3 events) – 23% Commercial (2 events) – 15% Air Ambulance (2 events) - 15% Air Tour/Sightseeing (2 events) – 15% Law Enforcement (1 event) – 8%
Note: values don’t add up to 100% because of rounding. LEADING CAUSES OF FATAL ACCIDENTS
The following accident types accounted for 47% of all fatal accidents from 2019–24, down 9% from 2009–18, when they made up 56% of the total.
47%
the rate dipped below 3.5. The over- all number of accidents, 88, was the second- lowest on record in 25 years and 13% lower than the 101 accidents recorded in 2023. The graphic above also lists the
leading causes of fatal accidents, which continue to be loss of control in flight, striking objects during low-altitude operations, and unintended flight into instrument meteorological conditions (UIMC). As an example of efforts to reduce these numbers further, Chris Baur, USHST industry cochair, points to a recent USHST/FAA Rotorcraft Collective video, “Recognize the Early Signs of an Undesired Aircraft State,” available at
tinyurl.com/mr3aymez, that discusses loss of control in flight. Perhaps most interesting, Roskop
noted, was that the fatal accident rate for Part 135 commercial opera- tors, 0.46 per 100,000 flight hours, exceeded the rate for Part 91 opera- tions, 0.34 per 100,000 flight hours. Roskop called that “pretty remarkable.” “The 2024 numbers provided us
with welcome news about the US helicopter industry’s improved safety performance, but I’m concerned that the fatal accident rate for Part 135 operators now exceeds that for Part 91 operations,” says Baur. “I encourage POWER UP readers to join the USHST at
usht.org and familiarize themselves with the innovative and free safety products and services available. “Please advocate for enhanced
safety—whether in your personal performance, in your organization, or
▪ Loss of Control in Flight ▪ Striking Objects at Low Altitudes ▪ Unintended Flight into IMC
All fatal accidents Fatal accidents 2009–18
as a resource for the helicopter com- munity,” says Baur. “These statistics demonstrate that our efforts can make a difference.” Going forward, the USHST has set
ambitious goals to improve vertical aviation safety. According to Baur, these include the industry’s first dedi- cated Peer Pilot Program (see “Are You Mentally Fit to Fly?” on p. 64) and increasing access to aviation weather cameras and robust COPTER IFR solutions. The safety dividend revealed in the
2024 data is real and measurable. And it’s yours for the taking.
Mark Huber is an aviation journalist with more than two decades of experience in the vertical flight industry.
JUN 2025 POWER UP 59
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