Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Reduced helicopter flight activity has translated into fewer accidents during the first six months, according to data released this morning by the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST). From January through June 2020, the U.S. industry posted 42 accidents, nine of them fatal. That compares to 69 accidents, 15 of them fatal, for the same period in 2019.

 


In the first half, the fatal accident rate per 100,000 flight hours was 0.63 versus 0.80 for full-year 2019, according to preliminary data. The USHST partially credited the improvement in reduced flight accidents to Covid-19, estimating that flight activity dropped anywhere from 10 to 30 percent as a result of pandemic-related shutdowns.&nbsp;

 


Separately, the USHST announced the addition of three safety experts to its steering committee: Mike Newell, director of aviation safety at Airbus Helicopters;&nbsp;Chris Hill, director of safety for the Helicopter Association International; and Scott Tyrrell, FAA rotorcraft safety and accident investigator.&nbsp;The USHST’s current goal is to reduce the U.S. fatal helicopter accident rate to 0.55 per 100,000 flight hours by 2025.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Helo Accidents Fall During Pandemic

Reduced helicopter flight activity translated into fewer accidents during the first six months of 2020

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Vehicle also struck parked ground-support tractor; there were no injuries

Teen Driver Breaches Fence, Hits PlaneSense PC-12 at KPSM

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

NBAA Report Flags Powerplant, Collision Risks in Q2 Data

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Twenty years ago, a business jet and commerical airliner collided; the smaller airplane survived

Remembering a Solemn Anniversary: the Amazon Midair 

David Jack Kenny

Preliminary and final accident reports, September 2026

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: September 2026

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

More In Accidents

NTSB: Pax Safely Lands King Air after Pilot Collapsed

Pilot died of cardiac arrest during the flight

Teen Driver Breaches Fence, Hits PlaneSense PC-12 at KPSM

Vehicle also struck parked ground-support tractor; there were no injuries

NBAA Report Flags Powerplant, Collision Risks in Q2 Data

Six fatal accidents resulted in 22 fatalities in the quarter

Remembering a Solemn Anniversary: the Amazon Midair

Twenty years ago, a business jet and commerical airliner collided; the smaller airplane survived

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: September 2026

Preliminary and final accident reports, September 2026

NTSB Cites Heliport Misidentification in Aug. 2025 Crash

Captain opted out of instrument approach over autopilot concerns

Fire of Unknown Origin Led to 2024 Citation X Accident

NTSB: Ignition source could not be conclusively identified

NTSB: Bell 206L Damage Caused by Aeroelastic Interaction

Helicopter experienced a vertical hop for which the pilot didn’t know the recovery procedure

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