Analysis of injuries among pilots killed in fatal helicopter accidents.

BACKGROUND Despite advancements in the crashworthiness of helicopters, both the rate and severity of injuries sustained in helicopter accidents remain a cause for concern. The mechanism and pattern of injuries sustained in aircraft accidents can provide vital information for improving survivability. The purpose of this study was to analyze patterns of injuries sustained by pilots involved in fatal helicopter accidents. METHOD Detailed information on the pattern and nature of injuries was retrieved from the Federal Aviation Administration's autopsy database for pilots involved in fatal helicopter accidents from 1993 to 1999. RESULTS A review of 84 autopsies revealed that blunt trauma was cited as the primary cause of death in 88.1% of these cases. The most commonly occurring bony injuries were fractures of the ribs (73.8%), skull (51.2%), facial bones (47.6%), tibia (34.5%), thorax (32.1%), and pelvis (31.0%). Common organ/visceral injuries included injury to the brain (61.9%), lung (60.7%), liver (47.6%), heart (41.7%), aorta (38.1/), and spleen (32.1%). Injury patterns did not appear to be related to the age of the pilot or the phase of flight. The use of a shoulder harness afforded protection to the occupant against certain injuries. CONCLUSIONS The findings and their significance are explained in the overall context of crash survivability and have implications for the design of crashworthy aircraft and making helicopter accidents more survivable.