SAFETY STATISTICS

1999 Stats

2000 Stats
2001 Stats
2002 Stats
2003 Stats
2004 Stats
2005 Stats
2006 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


2007

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

 

 

HSAC Members:
 March 18, 2008

  

Please find attached the Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference (HSAC) "2007 Gulf of Mexico Offshore Helicopter Operations and Safety Review".  The membership support and response from 15 helicopter operators for this review is not only appreciated, but vital in establishing a meaningful report.  Continued support is encouraged for the future.

 

The 2007 Gulf of Mexico oil industry helicopter accident rate per 100,000 flight hours was 1.70 with a total of 7 accidents (all single engine) compared to a 24-year annual average accident rate of 1.86. The fatal accident rate per 100,000 flight hours during 2007 was 0.49 with two fatal accidents (3 fatalities) compared to a 24-year average of 0.65.

 

During 2007, obstacle strikes on helidecks accounted for 3 (43%), improper pilot procedures accounted for 2 (29%), and 1 each tie-down and loose cargo accident (14% each). 

 

In the last 5 years, there have been 46 accidents of which 16 were fatal (35%), resulting in 37 fatalities and 49 injuries.  The leading causes, not all inclusive, of accidents in the last 9 years have been:

 

  • 18 engine related
  • 14 loss of control or improper procedures
  • 11 helideck obstacle strikes
  • 9 controlled flight into terrain 
  • 8 each tail rotor failure

 

HSAC has published a number of Recommended Practices to address these issues and they can be reviewed at www.HSAC.org.  We are optimistic that by sharing this information with all operators and other oil industry group's, safety initiatives may be developed and implemented to reduce accidents and incidents.

 

 

 

Bob Williams

Industry Liaison Committee Member


 

 

 

GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE HELICOPTER OPERATIONAL DATA SUMMARY

 

 

YEAR

NUMBERS by TYPE HELICOPTER

 

PASSENGERS  CARRIED

 

HOURS           FLOWN

 

NUMBER

OF    FLIGHTS

SINGLE ENGINE

LIGHT TWIN 

MEDIUM TWIN     

HEAVY TWIN

TOTAL FLEET

2003

410

66

118

13

607

2,574,810

381,273

1,345,075

2004

387

60

100

14

561

2,329,064

361,514

1,270,863

2005

424

48

99

18

589

2,625,322

 

389,544

 

1,310,736

 

2006

376

59

124

25

584

2,762,317

 

406,564

 

1,246,172

 

2007*

387

61

123

35

606

2,953,484

 

410,797

1,294,141

*   Data extracted from voluntary input of 15 helicopter operators in the Gulf of Mexico

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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

2003

275,580

22,161

76,948

6,584

381,273

1,102,644

67,399

163,869

11,163

1,345,075

2004

263,258

20,436

69,479

8,341

361,514

1,048,858

65,704

144,545

11,756

1,270,863

2005

275,225

21,386

80,787

12,146

389,544

 

1,062,942

65,076

162,476

20,242

1,310,736

2006

283,304

25,118

79,207

18,935

406,564

984,612

78,074

153,822

32,059

1,246,172

2007

280,683

27,617

81,895

20,602

410,797

1,019,611

90,109

153,402

31,019

1,294,141

 

 

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.

GULF OF MEXICO HELICOPTER FLEET OPERATIONAL DATA

Averages Per Helicopter

2005

2006

2007

 

Averages Per Helicopter

2005

2006

2007

Passengers per  Day per  5 Day Week

10,097

10,624

11,360

 

Annual Hours Per Aircraft

662

696

678

Flights Per Day

3,591

3,414

3,546

 

Flights Per Aircraft

2,227

2,134

2,136

Average Flight Duration in Min.

18

20

19

 

Passengers  Flown Per Year

4,461

4,730

4,874

 

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.

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2007 GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE HELCOPTER ACCIDENT DATA

NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS

INJURY CLASSIFICATION

AIRCRAFT DAMAGES

AVIATION ACCIDENT

 

Aircraft   Category

Injuries

Severity

Classification

Rates

 

 

Type

Aircraft

# Accidents

# Fatal

# Eng Related

 

Pax

 

Crew

 

Injured

 

Fatal

 

Minor

 

Substantial

Total

Loss

# Acc 100k Hours

# Fatal Acc 100k Hours

# Fatal    1M Occupants

# Acc 100k Flt Stages

 

Single Eng.

7

2

0

4

5

6

3

0

5

2

2.49

0.71

1.14

0.69

 

Light Twin

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

Med. Twin

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

Heavy Twin

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

 

2007 Totals

7*

2

0

4

5

6

3

0

5

2

1.70

0.49

1.02

0.54

 

2006 Totals

6

1

1

4

3

5

2

1

1

4

1.48

0.25

0.48

0.48

                                                * Note - There were 3 additional ditchings in 2007 not recorded as accidents - all single engine (2 power losse and 1 tail rotor failure)

 

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2006 GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE HELICOPTER ACCIDENT CAUSES/INFO

Type

Power Loss, multi- cause

Tail Rotor

Tie-down

Proc.

Loss Control or Improper Proced.

Loose Cargo

Flight Into Terrain, Water (CFITW)

Fuel Mgmt

Obstacle Strike

Fuel Qual.

Weather non-CFIT

Unk

Pax Control or HLO Proced.

Helideck

  Design or Size Issues

Fatalities Due To Engine Malf.

Helideck

Other

 

Technical

Pilot Procedure Related

 

 

 

 

 

 

Single Eng

0

0

1

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

Light Twin

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Med. Twin

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

0

Hvy Twin

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2007

0

0

1

2

1

0

0

3

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

99-06 Ttls

18

8

1

12

3

9

5

8

1

4

2

6

4

7

6

                                             

 

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FIVE YEAR GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE HELICOPTER ACCIDENT DATA

Number Of Accidents

Injury Classification

Aircraft Damages

Aviation Accident

Aircraft       Category

Injuries

Severity

Classification

Rates

 

Year

# Accidents

#

Fatal

# Eng Related

 

Pax

 

Crew

 

Injured

 

Fatal

 

Minor

 

Substantial

Total

Loss

# Acc 100k Hrs

# Fatal Acc 100k Hrs

# Fatal 1 M Occupants

# Acc 100k Flt Stages

2002

6

1

1

1

2

2

1

0

4

2

1.49

0.25

0.21

0.38

2003

15

7

3

17

8

13

12

3

2

10

3.93

1.84

2.93

1.12

2004

10

4

2

16

6

7

15

0

3

7

2.77

1.11

3.99

0.79

2005

8

2

2

16

7

18

5

0

4

4

2.05

0.51

1.21

0.61

2006

6

1

1

4

3

5

2

1

1

4

1.48

0.25

0.48

0.48

2007
7
2
0
4
5
6
3
0
5
2
1.70
0.49
1.02
0.54

5 Yr. Avg.

9.2

3.2

1.6

11.4

5.8

9.8

7.4

0.8

3.0

5.4

2.39

0.84

1.93

0.71

 

 

Revision 3-28-2008