|
|
1999 Stats
2000 Stats
2001 Stats
2002 Stats
2003 Stats
2004 Stats
2005 Stats
2006 Stats
2007 Stats
2008 Stats
2009 Stats
2010 Stats
2011 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
2008
HELICOPTER SAFETY ADVISORY CONFERENCE (HSAC) GULF OF MEXICO
OFFSHORE HELICOPTER OPERATIONS AND SAFETY REVIEW
HSAC Members: February 12,, 2009
Please find attached the Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference (HSAC) "2008 Gulf of Mexico Offshore Helicopter Operations and Safety Review". The membership support and response from 13 helicopter operators for this review is not only appreciated, but vital in establishing a meaningful report. Continued support is encouraged for the future.
The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) has experienced a consolidation of operators in recent years, having gone from 22 operators several years ago to 13 now. The 2 accidents recorded in 2008 are the fewest recorded in the GoM since HSAC began gathering statistics in 1984, and indicate a steady decrease in events since the high level of accidents in 2003/2004. This positive trend may be due in part to the emphasized safety focus of HSAC members and the publication / implementation of a number of HSAC Recommended Practices addressing casual factors.
The 2008 GoM oil industry helicopter accident rate per 100,000 flight hours was 0.49 with a total of 2 accidents (one each single engine and light twin) compared to a 25-year annual average accident rate of 1.79. The fatal accident rate per 100,000 flight hours during 2008 was 0.24 with one fatal accident (5 fatalities) compared to a 25-year average of 0.62.
In the last 5 years, there have been 33 accidents of which 10 were fatal (30%), resulting in 30 fatalities and 36 injuries. The leading causes, not all inclusive, of accidents in the last 10 years have been:
- 18 engine related
- 14 loss of control or improper procedures
- 12 helideck obstacle strikes
- 10 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 further 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
|
NUMBEROF 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
|
367
|
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
|
|
2008
|
365
|
49
|
107
|
30
|
551
|
2,936,772
|
410,321
|
1,245,770
|
* Data extracted from voluntary input of 12 helicopter operators in the Gulf of Mexico
GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE HELICOPTER OPERATIONAL DATA DETAILS
|
HOURS by TYPE HELICOPTER
|
OPERATIONS 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
|
|
2008
|
282,958
|
25,939
|
79,291
|
22,133
|
410,321
|
976,611
|
82,233
|
152,235
|
34,691
|
1,245,770
|
|
2009
|
240,507
|
23,878
|
62,195
|
18,237
|
344,817
|
957,756
|
87,771
|
117,438
|
32,702
|
1,195,667
|
GULF OF MEXICO HELICOPTER FLEET OPERATIONAL DATA
|
Averages Per Helicopter
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
Averages Per Helicopter
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
|
Passengers per Day per 5 Day Week
|
10,624
|
11,360
|
11,295
|
Annual Hours Per Aircraft
|
696
|
678
|
745
|
|
Flights Per Day
|
3,414
|
3,546
|
3,413
|
Flights Per Aircraft
|
2,134
|
2,136
|
2,261
|
|
Average Flight Duration in Min.
|
20
|
19
|
20
|
Passengers Flown Per Year
|
4,730
|
4,874
|
5,330
|
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.
2008 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.
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
6 |
5
|
0
|
5 |
1
|
0.35
|
0.35
|
1.92
|
0.10
|
|
Light Twin
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3.86
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
1.22
|
|
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
|
| 2008 Totals |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0.49 |
0.24 |
1.14 |
0.16 |
| 2007 Totals |
7 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
1.70 |
0.49 |
1.02 |
0.54 |
* Note - There was one additional ditching in 2009 due to loss of power that was not recorded as an accident.
2008 GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE HELICOPTER ACCIDENT CAUSES/INFO
|
Type
|
Power Loss,
multi- cause |
Other |
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* |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Light
Twin
|
0 |
0 |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Med.
Twin
|
0 |
0 |
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
|
|
2008
|
0 |
0 |
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
99-07
Ttls
|
18 |
8 |
2
|
14
|
4
|
10
|
5
|
11
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
7
|
4
|
9
|
6
|
FIVE YEAR GULF OF MEXICO OFFSHORE HELICOPTER ACCIDENT DATA
|
Number Of Accidents
|
Injury Classification
|
Aircraft Damages
|
Aviation Accident
|
|
Aircraft Category
|
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
|
| 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
|
|
2008
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
0
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0.49
|
0.24
|
1.14
|
0.16
|
|
5 Yr. Avg.
|
6.6
|
2.0
|
1.0
|
8.8
|
4.4
|
7.2
|
6.0
|
0.4
|
2.6
|
3.6
|
1.70
|
0.52
|
1.57
|
0.52
|
Revision 2-12-2009
|
|
|
|