RotorAlert
Incidents→Mechanical failure
Probable cause

Mechanical failure helicopter accidents

Incidents caused by failure of aircraft systems, components, or structure, including engine failures, rotor system failures, and other technical malfunctions.

Total incidents
814
Confirmed fatalities
704
Fatal incidents
166
Fatal rate
20.4%
Most affected countries
Most affected aircraft
Bell24 incidents
Robinson23 incidents
Eurocopter13 incidents
Mil7 incidents
AutoGyro3 incidents

How many helicopter crashes are caused by mechanical failure?

814 incidents in this database are attributed to mechanical failure, causing 704 deathsacross 166 fatal accidents, between 1953 and 2026.

Where does this happen most?

Most often in United States, with 498 records, then United Kingdom with 39.

DateLocationAircraftFatalitiesSeveritySource
2026-10-18🇸🇦Saudi ArabiaBoeing AH-6i2fatalArab News ↗
2026-09-25🇸🇪Gnosjö, SwedenEurocopter AS350B3e—minorSVT ↗
2026-09-22🇨🇳Xi'an, ChinaAmateur-built Coaxial ultralight helicopter—minorSina Finance ↗
2026-09-17🇺🇸Kaplan, United StatesAutoGyro MTOsport—seriousFAA ASIAS ↗
2026-09-08🇲🇾Long Lellang STOLport, Sarawak, MalaysiaMBB Bo 105CBS-55fatalSarawak Trib ↗
2026-09-06🇺🇸near Lake Wales, United StatesBell 47G-4A—minorFAA ASIAS ↗
2026-09-02🇷🇺Sakhalin, RussiaMil Mi-8—seriousASTV ↗
2026-08-24🇮🇹Foppolo, ItalyRobinson R22 Beta—minorBergamonews ↗
2026-08-22🇷🇺Sochi, RussiaMil Mi-8MTV-1—seriousTelegram ↗
2026-08-14🇨🇦British Columbia, CanadaBell 214B—seriousPPRuNe ↗
2026-08-02🇺🇸Bennett, United StatesRobinson R44 II—minorFAA ↗
2026-07-27🇺🇸Opp, United StatesEurocopter UH-72A—seriousWTVY ↗
2026-07-14🇨🇦Atikokan, CanadaEurocopter AS350B2—minorTSB ↗
2026-06-26🇪🇸Zalduondo, Álava, SpainAirbus Helicopters H135—minorCIAIAC ↗
2026-06-10🇵🇰Muzaffarabad, PakistanMil Mi-1722fatalAl Jazeera ↗
2026-05-04🇲🇽Mazatlan, MexicoMil Mi-17—seriousAviation Saf ↗
2026-03-28🇨🇦Sussex, CanadaRobinson R441fatalTSB ↗
2026-03-23🇨🇦Lac Simoncouche, CanadaBell 206B—minorTSB ↗
2026-03-23🇺🇸Boynton Beach, United StatesRobinson R442fatalNTSB ↗
2026-03-21🇶🇦sea off Qatar, Qatar—7fatalQatar Tribun ↗
2026-03-12🇿🇦Potgietersrus Airport, Mokopane, South AfricaAutoGyro MTOsport1fatalSACAA
2026-03-09🇦🇪United Arab Emirates—2fatalGulf News ↗
2026-03-02🇿🇦near Kromvlei, south of Alberton, South AfricaBell 407—minorSACAA
2026-02-17🇨🇦Fredericton, CanadaSchweizer 269C—seriousTSB ↗
2026-02-15🇵🇹Algés, PortugalRobinson R44 Raven II—minorGPIAAF ↗
2026-02-11🇫🇷Verrieres, FranceEurocopter BK117 C-22fatalLa Montagne ↗
2026-02-02🇿🇦Johannesburg-Grand Central Airport, South AfricaBell 407—minorSACAA
2026-01-05🇮🇳Chengalpattu, IndiaAerospatiale Chetak—minorThe Times of ↗
2025-11-18🇳🇱Eelde, NetherlandsAirbus Helicopters H135—minorLiveATC ↗
2025-09-17🇺🇸Thurston County, United StatesSikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk4fatalkiro7.com ↗
2025-09-10🇦🇫Ghor province, AfghanistanMil Mi-17—seriousAmu TV ↗
2025-09-01🇵🇰near Chilas, Diamer district, PakistanMil Mi-175fatalDawn ↗
2025-08-16🇪🇸off La Barceloneta, Barcelona, SpainRobinson R44 Raven II—minorLa Vanguardi ↗
2025-07-14🇨🇦Behchoko, CanadaBell 206L-3—seriousTSB ↗
2025-06-21🇮🇪ILAS Field, Taghmon, IrelandBensen B8M Gyrocopter—minorAAIU ↗
2025-06-10🇬🇹Zona 15, Guatemala City, GuatemalaRobinson R66 Turbine—minorUIA Guatemal ↗
2025-04-10🇺🇸Jersey City, United StatesBell 206L-46fatalCBS News ↗
2025-03-15🇬🇧Marston Doles, Warwickshire, United KingdomWestland Wasp HAS.1—seriousAAIB ↗
2025-01-15🇮🇪Ireland West Airport, IrelandEurocopter AS355F2—seriousAAIU ↗
2024-12-21🇦🇪Al Badayer, Sharjah, United Arab EmiratesAgusta A109E—seriousGCAA
2024-11-16🇦🇺Northern Territory, AustraliaRobinson R22—seriousATSB ↗
2024-11-15🇦🇺Barkly Region, AustraliaRobinson R22—minorATSB ↗
2024-10-29🇳🇱Zoetermeer, NetherlandsEurocopter EC135P2+—seriousDutch Safety ↗
2024-10-08🇳🇱Rutten, NetherlandsEurocopter EC135P2+—minorOmroep Flevo ↗
2024-09-04🇬🇧English Channel, 25nm south of Lyme Regis, United KingdomLeonardo AW101 Merlin HC41fatalDefence Safe ↗
2024-05-24🇮🇳Kedarnath helipad, IndiaAgusta A119 Koala—minorASN wikibase ↗
2024-05-17🇬🇹Santa Catarina Pinula, GuatemalaRobinson R44 II—minorUIA Guatemal ↗
2024-03-30🇪🇸Barcelona Port Heliport, SpainRobinson R44 Raven II—seriousCIAIAC ↗
2024-02-28🇬🇱Skovfjord, 13km SE of Narsaq, GreenlandBell 206L-4—minorAerossurance ↗
2024-02-27🇭🇺Budaörs, HungaryAutoGyro Cavalon—minorTSB Hungary ↗
2024-01-20🇳🇬offshore west of Erha FPSO, NigeriaLeonardo AW139—minorNSIB ↗
2023-12-30🇺🇸Daytona Beach, United StatesRobinson R44—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-12-28🇺🇸Walland, United StatesBell 206L-1—minorNTSB ↗
2023-12-27🇺🇸Miami, United StatesHughes 369E1fatalNTSB ↗
2023-11-30🇬🇹Lago Itzá Farm, Corozal, San José, GuatemalaBell 206L-1—seriousPrensa Libre
2023-11-29🇯🇵East China Sea off Yakushima, JapanBell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey8fatalUS Air Force ↗
2023-11-21🇺🇸Dodge Center, United StatesEurocopter EC135T3—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-11-20🇰🇪Buna, KenyaMil Mi-171E—seriousThe Star ↗
2023-11-20🇺🇸Brawley, United StatesBell OH-58A—minorNTSB ↗
2023-11-15🇺🇸Chesterfield, United StatesBell 407—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-10-26🇺🇸Rowlett, United StatesRobinson R44—unknownNTSB ↗
2023-10-17🇺🇸Mitchell, United StatesBell 206L-4—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-10-04🇩🇰0.9nm ESE of Kolding/Vamdrup, DenmarkRobinson R44 Clipper II—seriousHCLJ ↗
2023-10-01🇺🇸Deer Park, United StatesEagle R&D Helicycle—seriousNTSB ↗
2023-09-21🇺🇸Linden, United StatesBell 407—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-09-15🇬🇹La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City, GuatemalaRobinson R44 Raven II—seriousUIA Costa Rica
2023-09-13🇺🇸Fargo, United StatesEurocopter EC135T2—minorNTSB ↗
2023-08-27🇺🇸Hibbing, United StatesBell 206—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-08-26🇺🇸Immokalee, United StatesRobinson R44—seriousNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-08-09🇺🇸Guernsey, United StatesBell OH-58A—unknownNTSB ↗
2023-08-05🇺🇸Springerville, United StatesBoeing CH-46E—minorNTSB ↗
2023-08-01🇺🇸North Charleston, United StatesBell 407—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-07-28🇦🇺Whitsunday Islands, AustraliaNHIndustries MRH-90 Taipan4fatalWikipedia ↗
2023-07-19🇺🇸Farmington, United StatesEurocopter AS355E—minorNTSB ↗
2023-07-13🇺🇸Pocahontas, United StatesRobinson R44 II—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-07-09🇺🇸Marble Falls, United StatesRobinson R44 II—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-07-09🇺🇸Waldorf, United StatesHughes 369D—unknownNTSB ↗
2023-07-01🇺🇸Macclenny, United StatesSchweizer 269C—minorNTSB ↗
2023-04-08🇳🇵Kathmandu, NepalEurocopter AS350B2—minorKhabar Hub ↗
2023-03-29🇺🇸Wade, United StatesBell OH-58A—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2023-02-23🇭🇺Páty, HungarySchweizer 269C—unknownNTSB ↗
2023-02-06🇺🇸Yuma, United StatesBell OH-58A—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-12-12🇺🇸Yuba City, United StatesEurocopter EC130 T2—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-11-27🇺🇸Titusville, United StatesRotorWay ROTORWAY EXEC 162F—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-11-22🇺🇸Charlotte, United StatesRobinson R442fatalNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-11-02🇺🇸Greenville, United StatesBell 206—minorNTSB ↗
2022-11-02🇺🇸Greenville, United StatesBell 206—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-10-27🇺🇸Sarasota, United StatesRobinson R44—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-10-08🇺🇸Fort Myers, United StatesBell 505—seriousNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-10-01🇺🇸Fresno, United StatesBell 206B—seriousNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-09-29🇺🇸Nashville, United StatesRobinson R22 Beta—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-09-24🇺🇸Houma, United StatesLeonardo AW139—minorNTSB ↗
2022-09-10🇦🇫National Defence University, Kabul, AfghanistanSikorsky UH-60A+ Black Hawk3fatalWashington Post
2022-09-01🇺🇸Shady Cove, United StatesSikorsky S-61N—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-08-03🇺🇸Chino, United StatesEurocopter AS350B3—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-27🇺🇸Hollywood, United StatesRobinson R22 Mariner—minorNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-22🇺🇸Waterloo, United StatesRobinson R44 II—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-19🇺🇸Madison, United StatesGuimbal Cabri G2—unknownNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-16🇺🇸Chapelle, United StatesBell UH-1H4fatalNTSB CAROL ↗
2022-07-06🇺🇸Becker, United StatesHiller UH-12E—seriousNTSB CAROL ↗

Showing 100 most recent of 814 total incidents.

Browse by cause
← Back to all incidents