US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST)
Monthly Safety Report
February 2026
USHST Vision: A civil registered helicopter community without fatal accidents
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.
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14 CFR Part
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Baseline, CY2018-2022 (per 100K hours)
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Goal, CY2025-2029 (per 100K hours)
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Progress, CY2021-2025 (per 100K hours)
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91
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0.81
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0.73 (10% reduction)
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0.5
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133
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1.73
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1.56 (10% reduction)
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0.72
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135
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0.33
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0.17 (50% reduction)
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0.41
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137
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1.11
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1.00 (10% reduction)
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1.24
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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.
Government and industry to develop awareness and effective training information that addresses the hazards of adverse wind situations and the impacts to flight performance, especially when at low airspeed.
Through implementation of this H-SE, rotorcraft pilot knowledge can be standardized and potentially more individuals can adapt effective critical decision making to these environmental performance factors. This should lead to an increase in sound aeronautical decision making, better judgment in managing risk, and more consistent compliance with rules and regulations established to ensure a safe aviation system.
Project: • Define Adverse Wind situations in terms of the individual operator (include single pilot, and operation specific considerations). • Promote knowledge base criteria and training strategies for effective risk management and decision making when operating at low airspeeds in vertical flight regimes. • Improve mentoring by engaging trainers and operators who have operational experience in these areas and are willing to act as champions of best practices. The intent is help the individual or organization being mentored to gain the knowledge and skill to establish effective decision making and safety in their own operations.
FAA Rotorcraft Accident Dashboard
Helicopter Safety OUTREACH events:
· Helicopter Rotor Systems: What Every Pilot Needs to Know
· Staying Coherent At The Collective
· Don’t Forget to See and Avoid Other Aircraft (The Rotorcraft Collective)
· Choosing Community over Airframe (w/ Rusty Sloane)
· Flight Helmet Cords Can Impede Egress (NTSB)
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Please refer to USHST.org to view this entire safety report and its Calendar Year Metrics.
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
