I am trying to find out a statistic for the average number of
helicopter accidents versus the number of helicopters in use in the
United States. Are there more accidents per number of helicopters than
any other type of aircraft

Hello Nhalem,

<I am trying to find out a statistic for the average number of
helicopter accidents versus the number of helicopters in use in the
United States.
Are there more accidents per number of helicopters than any other type
of aircraft?>


Yes, according to Mike Kriebel, senior vice president of Aviation
Underwriters Association, the U.S. helicopter accident rate is 30
percent higher than the U.S. general aviation accident rate.

U.S. general aviation accident statistics to civil helicopter
(2004)statistics show that the general aviation rate is 6.22 as
opposed to 8.09 for helicopters.
Mike Kriebel offered several benchmarks illustrating this.

?Based on 2004 U. S. rates (an estimated 2,225,000 total flight
hours), the U.S. civil helicopter accident rate per 100,000 flight
hours is 8.09 (fatal accident rate is 1.48). The U.S. civil turbine
helicopter accident rate is 5.11 (the fatal accident rate is 1.21).
The ?on demand? (Part 135) air taxi accident rate is 2.21 (the fatal
accident rate is 0.78.) Mr. Kriebel observed that insurance rates for
the helicopter industry are high because the accident rate is high.
And many insurers will refuse altogether to cover what they perceive
to be high-risk helicopter operations.?

?By comparison, the U.S. Air Carrier (Part 121) accident rate is only
0.159 (the fatal accident rate is 0.011). Another relevant comparison
is that of 2004 U.S. general aviation accident statistics to civil
helicopter statistics. These show that the G.A. rate is 6.22 as
opposed to 8.09 for helicopters (in other words, the helicopter
accident rate is 30 percent higher). If we are to reduce the
helicopter accident rate by 80 percent, we must bring it down to 1.62
/ 100,000 flight hours.?

Source:
International Helicopter Safety Symposium 2005
September 26-29, 2005, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Final Report

http://www.vtol.org/pdf/IHSSSummary.pdf


Recently, government agencies, industry and operators conducted their
first International Helicopter Safety Symposium which was held in
order to develop means to reduce helicopter accidents.

"The accident rate in helicopter flight was flat, or perhaps
increasing attendees noted. The statistics presented showed that the
helicopter accident rate was 7.5 per 100,000 hours of flying, whereas
the airplane accident rate was approximately 0.175 per 100,000 flying
hours.?

Helicopter LAwyers
http://www.helicopterlawyers.com/causes_helicopter_accidents.html


How many helicopters are there by region? 

Approximately the world helicopter fleet at the begining of the 21st century was : 
Civil (about 26500 helicopters)

?  46.1% in North America
?  18.2% in Europe
?  12.7% in former Soviet Union
?  12.3% in Asia/Pacific
?  7.2% in South America
?  3.4% in the Middle East. 
?  0.1% in Africa 

Military (about 29700 helicopters)

?  33.5% in North America
?  21.1% in Europe
?  16.6% in former Soviet Union
?  13.6% in Asia/Pacific
?  6.3% in the Middle East. 
?  4.5% in Africa
?  4.4% in South America

Source: Helicopter history site
http://www.helis.com/faq/faq017.php

According to the US National Transportation Safety Board accidents
database, there were 197 helicopter accidents during 2005.

Look up accidents by aircraft type and year here:
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp#query_start


U.S. Civil Helicopter Statistics
Calendar Years 2003 - 2005
Comparison: Turbine Engine Accidents for U.S. Civil Fleet versus
Turbine Engine Accidents for USAIG preferred Policyholders
http://www.usau.com/USAU.nsf/Doc/PreferredPolicyholderHelicopter


Search terms:
helicopter accident rate
helicopters accidents in the U.S.
Helicopters in use


I hope the statistics provided are helpful!


Best regards,
Bobbie7

Thank you for your help