I bring you a weekly bite-sized chunk of the science behind helicopter human factors and CRM in practice, simplifying the complex and distilling a helicopter related study into a summary of less than 500 words.
TITLE:
Human Factors in Helicopter Air Ambulance Accidents, Incidents, and Safety Reports
WHAT?
Analysis of 10 years of NASA’s safety reporting system data on HEMS accidents and incidents in the US, which were then coded for human factors.
WHEN?
Published 2025, period of analysis covering 2013-2023.
WHERE?
US HEMS. Published in Air Medical Journal.
WHY?
Previous studies suggest that fatal accidents in HEMS are twice as common compared with non-HEMS operations, and that low visibility/darkness and pilot judgement were the two main factors contributing to these statistics.
This study aims to help improve understanding of the human factors underlying the still high fatal accident rate in HEMS operations in the US.
HOW?
Codification of data from air safety databases to analyse characteristics such as visual conditions, weather, environmentals, flight phase, etc. and categorisation of human factors findings from reports.
FINDINGS:
- Heightened environmental risks were associated with 36% of accidents.
- Loss of control occurred in 40% of accidents, ¾ during take of or landing, & nearly half at night.
- Judgement and decision-making errors were identified in 42% of accidents.
- Communication issues were identified in 36% of reports.
- Failure of an aircraft system or component occurred in 32% of reports.
- 21% of safety reports were for near mid-air collisions.
- Findings related to safety culture, external and self-induced pressures were present in 14% of reports.
- Operator policy and procedures were identified in 22% of reports.
SO WHAT?
- Communication; judgment and decision-making; adherence to procedures; and experience & training remain frequently identified pilot risks in HEMS.
- In addition, safety culture; performance pressure; operator policy and procedures; are the most commonly present organisational risks.
REFERENCE:
Hannah M. Baumgartner, Justin Durham, Peter T. Hu, Human Factors in Helicopter Air Ambulance Accidents, Incidents, and Safety Reports, Air Medical Journal, 2025, ISSN 1067-991X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amj.2025.03.008 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1067991X25001014)
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