Lessons Learned from the Analysis of North American Vertical Lift Accident and Incident Occurrence Data: Review of Civil Operations (2000 to 2024)

This research analyzes flight safety occurrences such as incidents and accidents in the vertical lift community over the last two decades. A study of civil vertical lift occurrence data was performed for flight occurrences from 2000 to 2024. Focusing on North America (Canada, United States), research data was acquired from the respective government Transportation Safety Board agency of either country. The study data set consisted of 4623 occurrences (occ.) or observations (i.e.; 861 for Canada and 3762 for the United States). The research methodology involved a 6-step process to analyze data quantitatively (descriptive statistics) and qualitatively (trends, mitigation projections). For the study period, quantitative findings indicated occurrence rates (4.53 occ. per 100k flight hours (Canada); 3.39 occ. per 100k flight hours (United States)), occurrence rates of change (declining Canadian and United States rates (-2.3%/yr. & -2.2%/yr.) respectively), and occurrence event types (in Canada, Engine Failures (121 occ.) while in United States Loss of Control (589 occ.) events indicated the most occurrences). For this investigation, qualitative findings highlighted a series of general groupings or conditions in areas of System Failures, Flight Control, Vehicle Collisions, Flight Operations, and Pilotage. It was projected that technologically, open-loop and closed-loop control systems may provide the best potential for occurrence mitigation. Key pilot assistance domain systems include envelope/limit protection, detect/avoid, perception, and flight control (stability, trajectory following, navigation).