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.

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Mark Huber

A new safety video from the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (USHST), entitled <a href="https://ushst.org/56secs/" target="_blank">56 Seconds To Live</a>, was released days after the NTSB issued its probable cause finding in&nbsp;the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others last January. According to the NTSB, the&nbsp;crash resulted&nbsp;after the pilot inadvertently&nbsp;entered&nbsp;instrument meteorological conditions and experienced spatial disorientation.

 


“U.S. accident statistics reveal that a helicopter pilot operating under visual flight rules who unintentionally continues flight into IMC will very likely lose control of their aircraft and be dead within an average of 56 seconds,” according to Nick Mayhew, USHST industry co-chair. “We must join industry stakeholders to do everything we can to reverse this alarming and unacceptable trend.”

 


The 56-second time period is based on a USHST study of 221 fatal helicopter accidents that occurred from 2009 to 2019, and the video offers a graphic depiction of how those 56 seconds feel to a desperate helicopter pilot.&nbsp;Unintentional IMC was one of the top causes in 38 of the accidents.&nbsp;

 


Concurrent with the video release, the USHST announced a 56 Seconds to Live course,&nbsp;available April 15 on the USHST website. Pilots will be able to complete the free learning management system (LMS) course, which&nbsp;emphasizes critical aeronautical decision-making moments and qualifies for FAA Safety Team (FAAST) credit.

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