Human Factors and Helicopter Accidents: An Analysis Using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS)

摘要

Due to their maneuverability and operational flexibility, helicopters have become an important alternative means of transport in great metropolitan areas in Brazil in the last decade. Nonetheless, the number of helicopter accidents has increased in parallel. From 2006 to 2015, 211 accidents occurred and 1030 people died. The main aim of this article is to examine the causal factors that lead to the human error in the helicopter accidents which occurred in Brazil between 2006 and 2015 using HFACS. The most frequent HFACS categories were: decision error (68%), skill-based errors (59%), violations (33%), physical environment (15%), issues with inadequate supervision (46%), and organizational processes (15%). By identifying the higher level human errors leading to helicopter accidents, HFACS is useful a tool for accident investigations and accident prevention strategies. The current study provides practical suggestions for top managers for a better helicopter operational safety environment.