EHEST has released its final analysis report on helicopter accident analyses occurred in EASA Members States between 2000 and 2005. The report presents the results of more than 300 accidents where a final investigation report from the Accident Investigation Board has been issued.
EHEST Brochure – accident report
The European Helicopter Safety Analysis Team (EHSAT) analyses accident investigation reports and, from this analysis, identifies suggestions for safety enhancement. EHSAT regional teams have been formed in Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It is estimated that these States account for more than 90 % of the helicopters registered in Europe. The analysis results of the different regional teams are consolidated on a European level.
The top three Standard Problem Statements identified were:
• Pilot judgment & actions
• Safety Culture/Management
• Ground duties
The use of the HFACS taxonomy by the EHSAT provided a complementary perspective on human factors. In 78 % of the accidents, at least one HFACS factor was identified. In most accidents unsafe acts or preconditions for unsafe acts were identified. In fewer accident reports supervisory or organisational influences were identified. The potential
to identify such factors is very much dependent on the depth of the accident investigation performed and the accident data available.
For both the SPS and HFACS taxonomies, different patterns were observed for Commercial Air Transport, Aerial Work and General Aviation. Section 4.4 provides an overview of the factors for the different type of operations identified at the lowest level of the taxonomy.
Most Intervention Recommendations (IRs) were identified in the three areas of:
• Flight Operations & Safety Management/Culture
• Training/Instructional
• Regulatory/Standards/Guidelines
This efforts to prepare a European wide accident analysis of helicopter accidents was unique and is now serving to derive work priorities for the implementatino teams.
