Helicopter safety analysis
Monthly incident roundups, aircraft safety deep dives, and trend analysis drawn directly from the RotorAlert database.
Helicopter incidents: August 2026 roundup
30 helicopter incidents recorded in August 2026, with 31 fatalities across 13 countries. Firefighting, tourism and military training operations all produced fatal crashes, and two midair collisions claimed three lives.
The Èze helicopter crash: what the investigation actually found
When a Monacair helicopter carrying Russian businessman Vyacheslav Taran crashed above Èze in November 2022, the conspiracy theories arrived within hours. A year later the BEA published its report. What it found was an impaired pilot, a bank of sea haze, and one of the most common ways helicopter pilots die.
Helicopter incidents: July 2026 roundup
17 helicopter incidents recorded in July 2026, with 16 fatalities across 11 countries. Firefighting operations proved particularly deadly, with crashes in Argentina, Colorado, and Canada.
Bell helicopters: 925 incidents and the story behind aviation's most ubiquitous name
Bell is the second most incident-prone helicopter manufacturer in the RotorAlert database with 925 recorded incidents. From the iconic JetRanger to the military Huey, we analyse which models crash most and why.
The Potomac River disaster: how systemic failures killed 67 people
On January 29, 2025, a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet collided over the Potomac River near Washington D.C., killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. A deep dive into the deadliest US air disaster in over two decades.
Helicopter incidents: June 2026 roundup
9 helicopter incidents recorded in June 2026, with 45 fatalities across 6 countries. A devastating month dominated by the Pakistan Mi-17 crash (22 killed) and the Saudi Aramco AW139 disaster (14 killed).
Why does the Robinson helicopter have so many accidents?
An analysis of 1000 Robinson helicopter incidents — causes, trends, and what the data tells us.
Helicopter incidents: May 2026 roundup
3 helicopter incidents recorded in May 2026, with 0 fatalities across 1 countries.
Helicopter incidents: June 2025 roundup
18 helicopter incidents recorded in June 2025, with 7 fatalities across 5 countries.