Helicopters draw a lot of attention with their almost magical ability to hover, fly in any direction and operate without runways. They also help save many lives, often dramatically, with their extensive use in all-weather military missions, ambulance duties and search-and-rescue roles.
When things go wrong, dramatic images and news stories about helicopter accidents grab the public’s attention. This is especially true when high-profile celebrities or government officials are involved.
However, modern rotorcraft are safe. Each year, the U.S. commercial helicopter industry flies about 3 million flight hours. There were 0.77 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours on average from 2018 to 2022. In comparison, general aviation, which refers to small fixed-wing aircraft and not jetliners, averaged 0.88 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours over the same period.
As an aeronautical engineer who specializes in rotorcraft and the director of a national vertical lift center of excellence, I have observed academic, government and industry efforts to improve helicopter safety. A lot of technology and training have gone into making helicopters safe.
