Chris Baur, FRAeS
Industry Chairman, US Helicopter Safety Team
Welcome to the Fall 2026 US Helicopter Safety Team e-newsletter!
The USHST is seeing more members than at any point in its history. All of us appreciate your commitment to helicopter safety! If you are joining us for the first time, I encourage you to become a member, either via the Hughes App https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hughes-app/id1491944548 or https://ushst.org/join-ushst/. If you join via Hughes App, you will receive your USHST membership card instantaneously!
The USHST is comprised of volunteers, from all the different sectors of the helicopter community; both experienced and some just getting started. All are committed to eliminating fatal helicopter accidents. Our volunteers are from the Helicopter OEM’s, Flight Schools, FAA, NTSB, and industry advocacy groups, led by VAI – Vertical Aviation International.
Collectively, we’ve all come together to reduce accidents in our helicopter community. The USHST also participates with the VAST – Vertical Aviation Safety Team, which consists of International Regional Safety Helicopter Teams, which we are part of.
As we progress through 2026, how are we trending?
The big picture: FY26 is running materially better
Through July, U.S.-registered rotorcraft have recorded 67 accidents, 14 fatal accidents, and 25 fatalities. Compared with the same period last fiscal year:
Those are not marginal improvements. Every principal metric is moving in the right direction.
The strongest signal is the long-term accident rate
The estimated accident rate has gone:
4.69 → 3.61 → 3.45 → 3.27 → 2.71
from FY22 through FY26 YTD.
That is roughly a 42% reduction from FY22’s 4.69 to FY26’s 2.71. More importantly, it isn’t just fewer accidents caused by fewer flight hours, the rate itself is falling.
The fatality rate tells a similar story:
FY22 1.26 → FY23 1.22 → FY24 1.00 → FY25 1.40 → FY26 1.01.
Monthly Summary
July Totals: 13 accidents, 2 fatal accidents, 2 fatalities
– The monthly total of 13 accidents was the highest for the ten months so far in FY26. Outside of the current FY, the total was the highest since August 2025 when 18 accidents occurred.
– July has historically been the highest accident month in the U.S for Part 27, Part 29, and Restricted Category rotorcraft. The most recent 5-year average for July (2021-2025) was 16 accidents.
– Two industry sectors accounted for 77% (10 out of 13) of the accidents. Aerial application had 46% of the total (6 out of 13) and Personal/Private had 31% of the total (4 out of 13).
– In at least 67% of the Aerial Application accidents in July, there was power line involvement in the accident sequence (all events still under investigation).
– Of the two fatal accidents, one involved the Personal/Private industry sector while the other was supporting Firefighting.
FY26 Summary
FY26 Totals: 67 accidents, 14 fatal accidents, 25 fatalities
Accidents (includes both fatal & non-fatal accidents):
– The FY26 estimated accident rate for Oct-Jul was 2.71 per 100K hours (6% lower than the same period in FY25 and 25% lower than the 5-year average for the same period).
– Distribution of accidents by Operating Part so far in FY26:
— Part 91 – 58%, Part 133 – 4%, Part 135 – 15%, Part 137 – 16%. Remaining accidents: 6% operated as Public Use aircraft.
– The count of 67 accidents from Oct-Jul is the lowest total for that time for the 44 FYs on record.
– The 67 accidents in FY26 have occurred in 10 different industry sectors. The top three percentages to date were: 1) Personal/Private: 33%, 2) Aerial Application: 16%, 3) Helicopter Air Ambulance: 13%
Fatal Accidents:
– The FY26 estimated fatal accident rate for Oct-Jul was 0.57 per 100K hours (19% lower than the same period in FY25 and 14% lower than the 5-year average for the same period).
– Distribution of fatal accidents by Operating Part so far in FY26:
— Part 91 – 50%, Part 133 – 14%, Part 135 – 29%, Part 137 – 0%. Remaining fatal accidents: 7% operated as Public Use aircraft.
– The count of 14 fatal accidents from Oct-Jul was in a five-way tie for the third lowest total for that time period for the 44 FYs on record.
– The 14 fatal accidents in FY26 have occurred in eight different industry sectors. Three industry sectors had multiple fatal accidents: 1) Personal/Private: (5 events, 36%) 2) (tie) Helicopter Air Ambulance & Utilities Patrol/Construction: (each w/2 events,14%).
Fatalities:
– The FY26 estimated occupant fatality rate for Oct-Jul was 1.01 per 100K hours (30% lower than the same period in FY25 and 20% lower than the 5-year average for the same period).
– Through 10 months, 21% of the rotorcraft accidents in FY26 had a fatality (long term historical percentage is 17-18%).
– Multiple fatalities occurred in 43% of the 14 fatal accidents.
– Distribution of fatalities by Operating Part so far for FY26:
— Part 91 – 56%, Part 133 – 8%, Part 135 – 28%, Part 137 – 0%. Remaining fatalities: 8% operated as Public Use aircraft.
U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) Calendar Year Metrics
The USHST’s 5-year goals for 2025-2029 are based on individual 14 CFR Operating Parts, tracked by 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, CY2022-2026 (per 100K hours) |
| 91 | 0.81 | 0.73 (10% reduction) | 0.47 |
| 133 | 1.73 | 1.56 (10% reduction) | 0.90 |
| 135 | 0.33 | 0.17 (50% reduction) | 0.42 |
| 137 | 1.11 | 1.00 (10% reduction) | 1.10 |
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)
But July 2026 was a genuinely bad month
July produced 13 accidents, versus only four in June. That’s the highest monthly count of FY26. The dashboard consequently shows July 18% above July 2025 and 71% above the trailing 12-month monthly average.
Those 13 accidents produced 2 fatal accidents and 2 fatalities. So July’s spike was primarily an accident-frequency event rather than a corresponding spike in severity.
Personal/private operations account for 22 of 67 accidents (33%) and 5 of 14 fatal accidents (36%)—the largest sector in both categories.
The five-year-average Part 91 fatal accident rate has improved substantially, reaching 0.47, while Part 135 has moved the opposite direction, rising to 0.42.
Part 91 is trending downward, while Part 135 has climbed from roughly 0.30–0.33 into the 0.37–0.42 range.
2026 – (14) Fatal Accidents
The dashboard reports 14 fatal accidents and 25 fatalities through July.
Weather / VFR decision-making is prominent
Sikorsky S-76D, N93RT — Huntersville, West Virginia — July 10, 2026
One fatality. The dashboard says this was a personal-use positioning flight from the owner’s property. Near the destination, witness video reportedly showed the helicopter at only 100–150 feet AGL with ceilings around 200–250 feet AGL. Witnesses said fog obscured all but the bottom of the aircraft before it pitched up and struck a mountainside.
Current reporting confirms it was an S-76D, the pilot was alone aboard, and the accident occurred near Huntersville/Marlinton.
Robinson R66, N4488H — Dawsonville, Georgia — May 29, 2026
Part 135 passenger flight. The helicopter was transporting a newly married couple from their wedding near Dawsonville toward Peachtree-DeKalb. The dashboard states that weather had deteriorated to fog and rain at departure and that the aircraft crashed in densely wooded terrain shortly afterward. Two occupants died.
The FAA confirms that the R66 crashed in wooded terrain at about 10:35 p.m., with three people aboard. Contemporary reporting says the pilot and groom were killed and the bride survived.
These accidents are currently under investigation. One shared factor is deteriorating weather. What are your personal minimums, back-up plan – do you understand the increased risks of Night VFR?
These could be examples of the “It’s Okay to Stay” program. Although introduced in the previous USHST eNewsletter, I feel it is timely to include it again.
A current VAI/USHST Safety Initiative – It’s Okay to Stay!
The logic has been with us for a while – “Land & Live”, “56 Seconds to Live” and now Its ”Okay to Stay” promotes go/no-go decision-making before takeoff—long before finding alternative solutions in bad conditions becomes necessary. The cost of a hotel or ride-share is nothing compared to the cost of an accident!
Please click on this link to find out more about It’s Okay to Stay. https://verticalavi.org/safety/ok2stay/
COPTER Instrument Flight Procedures & Flight Plan Filing
IFR helicopter operators have long struggled to file instrument flight plans through EFB systems that include COPTER Departures and low-altitude ZK Routes, due to Specials not being contained in the 28-Day NASR file used by EFBs. While the FAA was unable to implement this important tool at the January deadline, they have advised it will go live this month – September 2026. The USHST is focused on its successful implementation as well as the ability to file for COPTER Instrument Departures.
FAA Weather Cameras
Kindly note – The Hughes App provides free of charge FAA Weather Camera feed to the USHST & flying public . The weather camera locations are geo-referenced and available on various charts (VFR/IFR) and part of the VFR Prediction Tool. Please see examples below.
The HUGHES App – FREE Safety Tools – Stay Connected to the USHST
You can join the USHST and receive both a Membership Card as well as a free subscription to the Hughes App https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hughes-app/id1491944548
Hughes Flight Intelligence
The VFR Prediction Tool is now searching for Slacklines! Did you know there are over 7000 slacklines? Our search tool is fully automated, searching for weather, weather cameras, icing, NOTAMS and Slacklines along or near your proposed route. When Slacklines are detected, simply tap to see the details. You enter a latitude/longitude in addition to an airport or heliport identifier for more precise planning. We’ve also added the ability to draw your route directly on the map, which is especially helpful when planning local flights, sightseeing, patrol patterns, or training circuits
The tool also searches for NOTAMs along your route of flight, including those assigned to aerodromes you may pass near — not just your departure and destination airports. The HUGHES App is completely free and the only aviation application for Slacklines.
PLAN – BRIEF – DECIDE
FOQA Tool – Post Flight Debriefing
FOQA — Flight Operations Quality Assurance
FOQA is a powerful post-flight debriefing tool that helps pilots and operators review flight performance, identify trends, and improve safety. The Hughes Flight Intelligence app turns your iPhone or iPad into a FOQA recording tool, capturing flight data for simple, intuitive post-flight analysis.
AI-Powered Post-Flight Analysis
Hughes uses powerful AI to automatically parse, interpret, and process recorded flight data into a comprehensive post-flight report. The system recreates the flight with automated playback and virtual flight instruments, captures the weather conditions encountered during the flight, identifies key performance events, and evaluates the quality and completeness of the recorded flight data—providing pilots with an immediate, objective post-flight debrief.
USHST Foundation – Peer Pilot Menal Health Program the USHST PPP is an all-volunteer peer-based program where a helicopter pilot dealing with a personal or professional issue can speak with an industry peer volunteer, regarding a non-life-threatening mental well-being concern in their lives. The volunteers are experienced colleagues who share and understand the helicopter profession, identifying with the pressures and risks both real and perceived that both helicopter pilots and crew encounter. Completely confidential.
The program is at no cost to USHST members, and does not involve the FAA, your medical or your employer. NO Cost, NO Risk and NO Judgement. You can go directly to the USHST Peer Pilot Program Website – https://www.ushstpeer.org/ or reach us from the USHST.org webpage or thorough the Hughes App.
The FAA Rotorcraft Collective
The USHST and the FAA’s Rotorcraft Collective collaborate on new videos to enhance helicopter safety. The most recent instalments – Always Put Your Flightpath First & Master the Helicopter ACS.
USHST In-person Safety Seminar – Oklahoma
A recent USHST regional safety event in Oklahoma at World Helicopter Day combined valuable safety education, industry networking, and socializing within the helicopter community — along with a static display of helicopters and helicopter rides.
World Helicopter Day was hosted by Vertical Aviation International Board Member Brandi Rector, and Semper Fly Helicopters, demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing rotorcraft safety, education, and community engagement throughout the industry.
Please let us know if you’d like to host a USHST Safety Seminar at your facility.
FAA FAAST Webinars
If you don’t have time to attend an in-person event, the USHST hosts live webinars (that are also recorded) in the FAA FAAST network. We often collaborate with the Minnesota & New England FAAST Teams to present on USHST safety topics, where you can earn WINGS Credit. Drinking Coffee is NOT required. We have upcoming Webinars on Saturday September 26th – When VFR Stops Working – Making the Decision Before You’re in IMC with Bruce Webb & Francois LaSalle.
Link to the event https://www.faasafety.gov/SPANS/event_details.aspx?eid=145802&caller=/SPANS/events/EventList.aspx
Helicopter Safety Enhancements or HS-Es – A Summary Report can be found here https://ushst.org/h-se-details/
HS-Es are one of USHST’s cornerstone safety products. Each HS-E is a thoroughly researched document that is composed by Subject Matter Experts to provide a depth of understanding about a specific topic. HS-E’s can also consist of white papers with recommended practices, calls to action; or videos, posters, webinars or checklists. CFI’s – these can be a great resource for your students! In each e-USHST Newsletter, we will examine one of the HS-E’s from the USHST library. HS-E 23-01 Work Plan on Professional Preflight Planning & Go/No-Go Aeronautical Decision Making is the basis of Its Okay to Stay. https://ushst.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/USHST-H-SE-23-01-P3-GADM-Workplan.pdf
The USHST Store – Get your USHST Merchandise
NEW ITEM! – “It’s Okay to Stay” USHST Carabiner & Bottle Opener – Just hang up your keys & relax
