2003 GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE

SAFETY STATISTICS

1999 Stats

2000 Stats
2001 Stats
2002 Stats

1998 E & P FORUM WORLD-WIDE OIL INDUSTRY HELICOPTER OPERATIONS AND SAFETY REVIEW
1999 E & P FORUM WORLD-WIDE OIL INDUSTRY HELICOPTER OPERATIONS AND SAFETY REVIEW
2000 E & P FORUM WORLD-WIDE OIL INDUSTRY HELICOPTER OPERATIONS AND SAFETY REVIEW
2001 E & P FORUM WORLD-WIDE OIL INDUSTRY HELICOPTER OPERATIONS AND SAFETY REVIEW

2003

HELICOPTER SAFETY ADVISORY CONFERENCE (HSAC) GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE HELICOPTER OPERATIONS AND SAFETY REVIEW

HSAC Members:

February 23, 2004

Please find attached the Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference (HSAC) "2003 Gulf of Mexico Offshore Helicopter Operations and Safety Review". The membership support and response from 22 helicopter operators for this review is not only appreciated, but vital in establishing a meaningful report. Continued support is encouraged for the future.

The 2003 Gulf of Mexico oil industry helicopter accident rate per 100,000 flight hours was 3.93 with a total of 15 accidents (all single engine) compared to a 20-year annual average accident rate of 1.83 with a total of 9.1 accidents/year. The fatal accident rate per 100,000 flight hours during 2003 was 1.84 with a total of 7 fatal accidents compared to a 20-year average of 0.63 with a total of 2.7 fatal accidents/year.

This was the worst overall accident record in the 20 years since we began gathering data, with the highest number of fatal events (7) and total fatalities (12), and second highest number of total accidents (15). The 7 fatal accidents were caused by: 2 each engine and controlled flight into water; 1 each loss of control, helideck obstacle strike, loss of passenger control.

During 2003, improper pilot procedures accounted for 11 (73%) of the 15 accidents. 3 each of these were due to controlled flight into terrain or water, loss of control of the helicopter, and obstacle strikes. 1 each due to cargo falling out of the baggage bay and striking the tail rotor, and a strike to another helicopter.

In the last 5 years, there have been 47 accidents of which 14 were fatal (30%), resulting in 19 fatalities and 42 injuries. 25 (53%) of these accidents were due to pilot procedure related causes and 13 (28%) were due to technical fault. It should be noted that other than engines, the only technical causes of accidents were tail rotor failures. The specific leading causes of accidents in the last 5 years have been:

(19%) engine related - with 4 fatalities
(19 %) loss of control or improper procedure with 1 fatality
(11%) helideck obstacle strikes with 5 fatalities
(11%) controlled flight into terrain or water - 3 occurred at night - with 5 fatalities
(9%) tail rotor failures
(6%) fuel quality control
(6%) loose cargo striking tail rotor
(6%) passenger control with 2 fatalities

We are optimistic that by sharing this information with all operators and other oil industry group's, safety initiatives may be developed to reduce accidents and incidents.

GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE HELICOPTER OPERATIONAL DATA SUMMARY

YEAR	TYPE HELICOPTER					PASSENGERS CARRIED	HOURS FLOWN	NUMBER OF FLIGHTS
YEAR	SINGLE ENGINE	LIGHT TWIN	MEDIUM TWIN	HEAVY TWIN	TOTAL FLEET	PASSENGERS CARRIED	HOURS FLOWN	NUMBER OF FLIGHTS
1999	413	81	93	14	601	2,664,848	392,712	1,459,781
2000	385	76	106	15	581	3,451,511	441,908	1,394,679
2001	407	87	121	17	632	3,127,449	451,712	1,473,057
2002	411	77	121	16	625	3,088,865	402,632	1,564,362
2003*	410	66	118	13	607	2,574,810	381,273	1,345,075

* Data extracted from voluntary input of 22 helicopter operators Gulf of Mexico

GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE HELICOPTER OPERATIONAL DATA DETAILS

	HOURS by TYPE HELICOPTER					OPERATIONS (Takeoff/Landings) by TYPE HELICOPTER
YEAR	SINGLE ENGINE	LIGHT TWIN	MEDIUM TWIN	HEAVY TWIN	TOTAL FLEET	SINGLE ENGINE	LIGHT TWIN	MEDIUM TWIN	HEAVY TWIN)	TOTAL FLEET
1999	280,150	38,218	66,071	8,273	392,712	1,161,888	124,480	158,175	15,238	1,459,781
2000	316,029	38,126	79,736	8,016	441,908	1,051,160	134,035	192,289	17,197	1,394,679
2001	309,429	35,318	96,548	10,417	451,712	1,123,393	125,832	204,285	19,547	1,473,057
2002	284,226	26,610	83,556	8,240	402,632	1,251,945	99,117	195,883	17,417	1,564,362
*2003*	275,580	22,161	76,948	6,584	381,273	1,102,644	67,399	163,869	11,163	1,345,075

GULF OF MEXICO HELICOPTER FLEET OPERATIONAL DATA

Averages Per Helicopter	2001	2002	*2003*	Averages Per Helicopter	2001	2002	*2003*
Passengers per Day per 5 Day Week	12,029	11,880	*9,903*	Annual Hours Per Aircraft	715	644	*628*
Flights Per Day	4,036	4,286	*3,685*	Flights Per Aircraft	2,333	2,503	*2,216*
Average Flight Duration in Min.	18	15	17	Passengers Flown Per Year	4,952	4,942	*4,242*

As a service to the Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference (HSAC) membership, this Gulf of Mexico Offshore Helicopter Statistical Report is compiled annually from information submitted voluntarily by the membership and helicopter operators. The information is neither verified nor reviewed for accuracy and should be treated as unofficial. The data is believed to be representative; however, the HSAC assumes no liability for accuracy or completeness.