Light utility helicopters made up half the fleet of registered
helicopters in Australia, yet were involved in 72 per cent of
helicopter accidents between January 1985 and December 2003. This
report compared the relative safety of four light utility
helicopter models. These are the: Robinson R22, 47G (made variously
by Bell Helicopter Company, Agusta SPA Costruzioni or Kawasaki
Heavy Industries), 269 (made by Hughes Helicopters or Schweizer
Aircraft Corporation) and Hiller UH-12E. These helicopters are
primarily single engine, reciprocating engine aircraft and the
demand for them in Australia is high. The number of light utility
helicopters on the civil register grew by 36 per cent between 1990
and 2002. The aim of this report was to determine if any particular
light utility helicopter model has a higher risk profile than
similar aircraft. For each of the light utility helicopter models
the report compared accident trends (fatal and non-fatal), accident
rates per registered aircraft, fatal accident rates per hours flown
and accident rates per hours flown.