US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST)
Monthly Safety Report
January 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.
14 CFR Part Baseline, CY2018-2022 (per 100K hours) Goal, CY2025-2029 (per 100K hours) Progress, CY2021-2025 (per 100K hours)
91 0.81 0.73 (10% reduction) 0.62
133 1.73 1.56 (10% reduction) 0.58
135 0.33 0.17 (50% reduction) 0.37
137 1.11 1.00 (10% reduction) 1.38
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 2023-04, Improve fatigue awareness and risk mitigation of scheduling factors leading to fatigue
On April 26th, 2018, around 22:50 local time, a pilot and two emergency medical services crewmembers were fatally injured when their helicopter was destroyed upon terrain impact near Hazelhurst, WI. Prior to the accident, the pilot and crewmembers were discussing their desires to go to sleep, and yawning could be heard. One crewmember asked the pilot if he was alright, and the pilot responded, “Uhhh, think so. Good enough to get us home at least.” The pilot could be seen stretching and was last heard speaking around 22:29. As the helicopter began to roll to the right, the crewmembers shouted the pilot’s name and received no response from the pilot, who had slumped to the left. The helicopter became inverted before colliding with terrain. The evidence suggests that the pilot fell asleep at the controls.
FAA Weather Cameras
Helicopter Safety OUTREACH events:
• Enroute Decision Point
• FAASTeam Notice January 12, 2026
• Practice Flying into IMC in a Sim (The Rotorcraft Collective)
• How This AW139 Crew Dealt With Complete Loss of Collective Control
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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 [email protected]