Brooks Christopher J, MacDonald Conor V, Baker Susan P, Shanahan Dennis F, Haaland Wren L
Aviat Space Environ Med. 2014 Apr;85(4):440-4. doi: 10.3357/asem.3478.2014.
According to 40 yr of data, the fatality rate for a helicopter crash into water is approximately 25%. Does warning time and the final position of the helicopter in the water influence the survival rate?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) database was queried to identify helicopter crashes into water between 1981 and 2011 in the Gulf of Mexico and Hawaii. Fatality rate, amount of warning time prior to the crash, and final position of the helicopter were identified.
There were 133 helicopters that crashed into water with 456 crew and passengers. Of these, 119 occupants (26%) did not survive; of those who did survive, 38% were injured. Twelve died after making a successful escape from the helicopter. Crashes with < 15 s warning had a fatality rate of 22%, compared to 12% for 16-60 s warning and 5% for > 1 min. However, more than half of fatalities (57%) came from crashes for which the warning time could not be determined.
Lack of warning time and how to survive in the water after the crash should be a topic for study in all marine survival/aircraft ditching courses. Investigators should be trained to provide estimates of warning time when investigating helicopter crashes into water.
根据40年的数据，直升机坠入水中的死亡率约为25%。预警时间以及直升机在水中的最终位置会影响生存率吗？
查询美国国家运输安全委员会（NTSB）数据库，以确定1981年至2011年期间在墨西哥湾和夏威夷发生的直升机坠入水中的事故。确定了死亡率、坠机前的预警时间以及直升机的最终位置。
有133架直升机坠入水中，机上有456名机组人员和乘客。其中，119名乘客（26%）未能生还；在生还者中，38%受伤。12人在成功逃离直升机后死亡。预警时间小于15秒的坠机事故死亡率为22%，预警时间为16 - 60秒的死亡率为12%，预警时间大于1分钟的死亡率为5%。然而，超过一半的死亡事故（57%）来自无法确定预警时间的坠机事故。
缺乏预警时间以及坠机后如何在水中求生应成为所有海上生存/飞机水上迫降课程的研究课题。调查人员在调查直升机坠入水中的事故时应接受培训，以提供预警时间的估计。
