Civilian helicopter accidents into water: analysis of 46 cases, 1979-2006.
BACKGROUND
When a helicopter crashes or ditches into water the crew and passengers must often make an escape from underwater and a number of the occupants do not survive. This paper examined fatality rates, human factors problems with escape, and causes of death in Canadian civilian registered helicopter accidents in water (1979-2006).


METHODS
Data obtained from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada was reviewed. Key issues such as fatalities, injuries, warning time, sinking, and inversion were examined.


RESULTS
There were 46 helicopters that ditched into water. There were 124 crew and passengers involved. Of those, 27 (23%) crew and passengers died. Lack of warning time (55%), rapid sinking (72%), and inversion (35%) were the most common issues in the accidents.


CONCLUSIONS
Survival rates for Canadian registered helicopter accidents into water (78%) show little change from previously reported worldwide data. Lack of warning time, rapid sinking, and inversion were the significant factors in the survival rate. The practical implication is that crew and passengers involved in planned flights over water must wear all the life support equipment on strap-in and not have it stowed on the back of the seat or in the cabin.
Survival Systems Ltd., 40 Mount Hope Ave., Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4K9, Canada. chrisb@sstl.com
Christopher James
CJ
Brooks
Conor Vaughan
CV
MacDonald
Leo
L
Donati
Michael John
MJ
Taber
D000060:Accidents, Aviation / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004332:Drowning / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014867:Water
D014867:Water