Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration National Helicopter Training Accident Reduction Program FAA FAASTeam Presented at: Sun

Federal AviationAdministrationFederal AviationAdministration

National Helicopter Training Accident

Reduction Program

FAA FAASTeam

Presented at: Sun N Fun 2009

Presented by: Jim Lamb, FAASTeam Program Mgr.

Federal AviationAdministration

2Presentation Title – Helicopter Training Accident Reduction

Date: April 21, 2009


2009

NATIONAL HELICOPTER TRAINING ACCIDENT REDUCTION PROGRAM

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate helicopter instruction accidents

and devise risk mitigation strategies to reduce these accidents

FAA SAFETY TEAM (FAASTeam)





Helicopter Accident Mitigation

• 2008

• FAA Safety Team given the responsibility to evaluate helicopter flight instruction accidents and

• Devise risk mitigation strategies





What was the basis for this program?

• Data gathered from 2006 and 2007 NTSB accident records revealed:

• In 2006, 155 helicopter accidents occurred of which 28 (18%) were training related.

• In 2007, 221 helicopter accidents occurred, 28 training related (10.4%).

• 2008 ended with 154 accidents with 32 (20.7%) being training related





When 2006-2008 data was compared with a 10 year accident summary (1997-2006) compiled by HAI, we found that accidents in 2006, 2007 and 2008 were just part of a continuing trend.





U.S. HELICOPTER ACCIDENTS

12-YEAR SUMMARY OF ACCIDENT STATISTICS

1997-2008





Helicopter Accidents / Instructional Accidents

Total Accidents Training Accidents

•1997 163 30

•1998 191 32

•1999 197 22

•2000 206 31

•2001 182 32

•2002 205 37

Total Accidents = 1144 Training Accidents = 184 16.1%





Helicopter Accidents / Instructional Accidents

Total Accidents Training Accidents

• 2003 214 43• 2004 180 42• 2005 193 46• 2006 155 28• 2007 221 23• 2008 151 32

Total Accidents = 1114 Training Accidents = 214 (19.2%)12 YEAR TOTAL=2258 TRAINING ACCIDENTS=398 (17.6%)





So Why Are We Looking So Closely At Training Accidents

Because history shows us that generally, we fly the way we train.

ESPECIALLY IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS





Breakdown Of Past Three Years

• 2006, 2007, 2008

• Causal Factors

• Types of Training Events





SPS and Accident Counts by Mission

189

169

145

104 104

8376

6852 51 49 45

30 23149 108910131612

282737

6 4 350

2040

60

80100

120

140

160180

200

Instr

uctional

Pers

onal/P

rivate

Aerial A

pplic

ation

Em

erg

ency

Medic

al S

erv

ice

Com

merc

ial

Opera

tor

Law

Enfo

rcem

ent

Air

Tour/

Sig

hts

eein

g

Off

Shore

Exte

rnal Load

Busin

ess -

Co

ow

s A

/C

Aerial O

bs/P

atr

ol

Firefighting

EN

G

Loggin

g

Utilit

ies P

atr

ol

Mission

Fre

qu

en

cy

SPS Count

Accident Count

US Fleet– CY2000 Data

Provided by Mark Liptak

FAA Office of Aviation Safety Analytical Services.





2006 Helicopter Instructional Accident Causal Factors

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

1

Loss of Tail RotorEffectiveness

Mechanical

Low Rotor RPM

Loss of Control

155 accidents/28 training flights = 18%





2006 Helicopter Instructional Accidents Training Events

7%4%

0%

25%

64%

Take-Off

Enroute

Maneuvering

Hovering

Land

2006 HELICOPTER INSTRUCTIONAL ACCIDENT TRAINING EVENTS





TRAINING ACCIDENTS INVOLVING AUTOROTATION

TRAINING 2006ACCIDENTS

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING AUTOROTATION

TRAINING





2007 Helicopter Instructional Accident Causal Factors

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Loss of Control

Mechanical

Insufficient Rotor RPM

Improper Procedure

Unknown

Dynamic Rollover

LTE

Landing

221 Accidents/23 Training Flights = 10.4%





2007 Helicopter Instructional Accidents Training Events

35%

26%

17%

9%

9%4%

Autorotation

Landing

Cruise

Hovering

Maneuvering

Taxi





2007 Helicopter Instructional Accidents Instructor Error

05

1015202530

1

Total reportedinstructional accidents

Flight Instructor error asdetermined by NTSB





Weight & Balance

Exceeded2%

Improper Maintenance

5%Wire Strike

7%Component

Failure9%

Unknown11%

Engine Fail6%

Inadequate Preflight

1%Fuel

Exhaustion2%

Weather3%

Mid-Air2%

LTE2%

Loss of Control18%

CFIT19%

Inadequate Supervision

CFI13%

Loss of Control

CFIT

Inadequate SupervisionCFI

Unknown

Component Failure

Wire Strike

Improper Maintenance

Engine Fail

Weather

Fuel Exhaustion





2009 Accident Flight Events

0

10

20

30

40

Total Events

Runup

Taxi

Hover

Takeoff/Climb

Autorotation

Pinnacle

Maneuver

Cruise

Land

AG Operation

Long-Line Lift

Maint. Test Flt

2008





2008

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Total Events Training With CFI CFI Error

Flt vs Training eventsRunup

Taxi

Hover

Takeoff/Climb

Autorotation

Pinnacle

Maneuver

Cruise

Land

AG Operation

Long-Line Lift

Maint. Test Flt

Unknown





Flight Instructor – Helicopter PTS

Available for Helicopter Pilot and Helicopter Flight Instructor certification.

Designed to evaluate competency in both knowledge and skill.

Establishes minimum standards for satisfactory completion of the practical test.





•Although training materials are available from many different sources, most are based on the FAA Flying Handbook.

•The next revision of the Rotorcraft Flying Handbook is in the final stages of completion.





Few Changes To Regulatory Requirements For Instructor

Certification

• A pilot seeking a Helicopter Flight Instructor Rating is required:

• Hold either a Commercial Pilot certificate or Airline Transport Pilot certificate (Minimum of 150 hrs flight time)

• Pass the required practical test





• Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701–44703, 44707, 44709–44711, 45102–45103, 45301–45302.

• Source: Docket No. 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, unless otherwise noted.

• Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 73—Robinson R–22/R–44 Special Training and Experience Requirements

Robinson Helicopter were instrumental in developing SFAR 73 but training accidents occur

in all makes/models of helicopters.





Risk Assessment

• NTSB determined the majority of rotorcraft training accidents when a CFI was present resulted from the instructor’s failure to intercede quickly enough.

• Accidents consistently resulted from a narrow range of training events that often involved autorotation.





Risk Assessment

• Accident records indicate that this accident trend has been occurring at the current rate for over twelve years in all areas of flight.

91 HEMS7%

135 HEMS4%

FAR 1335%

FAR 13710%

91 Instruction17%

FAR 9157%

2008





2008 Risk Matrix For All Helicopter Accidents

As an industry, helicopter operator’s likelihood of an unwanted

event is probable. The severity of those events can be high with substantial damage to aircraft, serious injury or loss of life.





Where do we start?

I L C

ndustry evel

ommittee

Industry experts asked to review accident statistics and identify causal factors.

Helicopter Manufacturers, Training Facilities, Helicopter Operators, and Special Use Entities





The First Step Toward A Safer Future

The ILC Was Held In Kansas City, Missouri

March 17 & 18, 2009.





A COMBINED EFFORT

• Hosted by FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam)

• Attended by 37 Industry representatives

• 10 FAA District, Region, and National personnel





ILC TEAM :

• FAA SAFETY TEAM

• TRAINING PROVIDERS

• MAINTENANCE PROVIDERS

• HEMS OPERATORS

• STATE AERONAUTICAL DIVISIONS

• INSURANCE PROVIDERS

• LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES





• INTERNATIONAL HELICOPTER SAFETY TEAM (IHST)

• AIRBORNE LAW ENFORCEMENT (ALEA)

• COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES (CAMTS)

• NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AIRCRAFT & COMMUNICATION SUPPLIER (NAACS)





ILC RESULTS

• IDENTIFIED TRAINING PROBLEMS NEEDING CHANGE:

• Training Recurrency

• Flight Instructor Training, Intervention Techniques, Testing, and Required Experience

• Crew Training

• Night Emergency Procedures





• Increased Use of Simulator Training

• Training Requirement For Helicopter Operators

• Maintenance Training

• Night Vision Training

• And Many More





WHAT HAPPENS NOW?• Each Agenda Item Will Be Addressed.

• If the item is outside of the FAASTeam’s area of responsibility, it will be forwarded to the proper FAA department.

• New training programs will be developed utilizing Industry input.





2009 National Plan

• Develop safety materials that will encourage Helicopter Training Providers to develop RISK ASSESSMENT programs.

• Risk Assessment programs will aid in identifying helicopter training hazards and practices before accidents can occur.





CFI WORKSHOP LESSON PLANS

• Helicopter CFI lesson plans will be included in the National CFI Workshop program.

• The lesson plans will be based on accident information and input captured during the Industry Committee Meeting with a focus on…..





• Training procedures to include:

– Use of simulators

– Recurrent training

– Inadvertent IFR

– Instructor experience and abilities





– Instructor intervention

– Night operations

– Night vision goggles

– CFI mentoring programs





Changes To FAASAFETY.GOV

• Adding links to the webpage for:

– Helicopter Training Programs

– National Industry Groups

– Adapting the webpage to be Helicopter User Friendly





2010

• 2nd National Industry Level Committee Meeting

• FAASTeam will report on action taken on 2009 agenda items.

• Review changes in 2009 accident data.

• Reevaluate mitigation strategies.





TEAMWORK

We all have the same goals………….

ACCIDENT REDUCTION





Thank you for your time and attention!!





The Central Region FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) is dedicated to Quality

Customer Service and we would value your feedback. Please provide your

feedback at:

www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afs/qms

Documents

Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration National Helicopter Training Accident Reduction Program FAA FAASTeam Presented at: Sun