A Survey of Serious Aircraft Accidents Involving Fatigue Fracture. Volume 2. Rotary-Wing Aircraft (Etude sur des Accidents Importants d'Avions du aux Effets des Fractures de Fatigue. Volume 2. Effets sur des Helicopteres).

Abstract : This is Volume 2 of a world-wide survey of serious aircraft accidents involving fatigue fracture. Volume 2 of the report deals with rotary-wing aircraft, while Volume 1 addressed fixed-wing aircraft. A total of 419 rotary-wing accidents since 1937 were identified as having fatigue fracture as a related cause, and these accidents resulted in 379 fatalities. The accidents cover civil and, to a limited extent, military aircraft. Accidents are listed by failure type, as well as by aircraft type. Engine/transmission failure and tail-rotor failure were the most common cause of rotary-wing accidents, and currently there is an average of about 31 rotary-wing fatigue accidents per year.