EHSAT
European Helicopter Safety Analysis Team
Presentation
Under EHEST the analysis team is called the European Helicopter Safety Analysis Team (EHSAT). This working group of EHEST performs the first step in the process: the review of occurrences. So far, nine regional teams have been created to analyse helicopter accidents and derive recommendations for interventions. It is estimated that the current nine EHSAT regional analysis teams cover more than 90% of the civil European helicopter fleet. The analysis results of the different regional teams are consolidated on a European level. This initiative is unique in its efforts to prepare a European wide accident analysis of helicopter accidents.
Terms of References 
Organisations
To tackle the variety of languages used in accident reports and optimise the use of resources, EHSAT has established nine regional analysis teams across Europe. Regional analyses are then consolidated at European level.
Participating Organisations in EHEST
Preliminary European helicopter accident analyses results
EHSAT has released its preliminary analysis report on helicopter accident analyses occurred in EASA Members States between 2000 and 2005. The report presents the results of 186 accidents where a final investigation report from the Accident Investigation Board has been issued. This represents some 58% of the entire set for this timeframe. The accident analysis aims at identifying all factors, causal or contributory, that played a role in the accidents.
Documents:
Most accidents analysed by the EHSAT (34%) occurred during the en route phase of flight. Also, 68% of the fatal accidents in the dataset occurred during the en route phase. In 33% of the accidents, the pilot had less than 1000 hours total helicopter experience. In 26% of the accidents, the pilot had less than 100 hours flight experience on the helicopter type involved in the accident. It was also observed that pilot experience is not always a barrier to having an accident.
The accident analysis aims at identifying all factors, causal or contributory, that played a role in the accident. Factors are coded using two taxonomies: Standard Problem Statements (SPS) and Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) codes.
The top 3 identified areas for the Standard Problem Statements are
- Pilot judgment & actions
- Safety Culture/Management
- Pilot situation awareness.
For both the Standard Problem Statements and HFACS taxonomies, different patterns were observed for Commercial Air Transport, Aerial Work and General Aviation.
Most Intervention Recommendations (IR) were identified in the areas of Training/Instructional, Flight Operations & Safety Management/Culture, and Regulatory/Standards/Guidelines.
When more analysed accident data becomes available, the results may change. Nevertheless, it is estimated that the preliminary results already provide a good indication of the final results.
Disclaimer :The safety improvement analyses and recommendations produced by EHSAT are based on expert judgement and are supplementary to the official reports of the accident investigation boards (AIB). Such recommendations, and the safety improvement actions that may follow, are solely aimed at improving helicopter safety, are not binding and under no circumstances should be considered to take precedence over the official AIB reports. The adoption of such safety improvement recommendations is subject to voluntary commitment, and engages only the responsibility of those who endorse these actions. The EHSAT accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the content or for any actions resulting from the use of the information contained in these recommendations.
