This article first appeared at Aviation Week.com.
U.S. Army aviation accidents and incidents have cost the service about $16.2 billion over the past dozen years, according to an exclusive Aerospace DAILY analysis of data provided by the Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center (USACRC).
The average cost per an accident or incident for the more than 30,000 events was $539,281, the analysis shows, with a maximum single-event cost of about $62.4 million. The mishaps have lead to 2,856 deaths.
So far this fiscal year — Oct. 1 through Nov. 10 — the service seems to be off on solid footing as far as mishaps go, according to online statistics released through the USACRC.
The Army shows seven reported Class A-C aviation accidents in FY ’09. There are three flight accidents resulting in an overall rate of 2.385 accidents per 100,000 hours flown within the Army flying hour program.
The current number of Class A-C accidents is 65 percent below last fiscal year, and 73 percent below a three-year average of the same periods. The Army has lost no soldiers this fiscal year in aviation mishaps.
Reducing fatalities and injuries has been a priority for Army safety leaders. “While I’m not a fan of statistics, it is evident soldiers and leaders get it’ by the 46 percent decrease in on-duty fatalities across our Army in fiscal 2008 (compared to fiscal 2007),” wrote Brig. Gen. William Wolf, new director of Army safety and commanding general of the USACRC, in a Nov. 3 letter posted on the center’s Web site.
Since 1986, the Army aircraft with the most reported fatalities due to mishaps are UH-60 Black Hawks, with more than 880 events, the analysis shows.
Placing second are the old UH-1H Hueys, with more than 460.
Next come Chinook variants, with the CH-47D accounting for more than 250 fatalities, according to the analysis.
Read the rest of this story, see what the president should make a priority at the Pentagon, check out where Ivan’s looking at port calls and take a look at all-seeing MAVs from our Aviation Week friends exclusively on Military.com.
– Christian
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
anybody know what happened with the $62.4 million accident? like equipment involved?
Which should remind everyone (once again) that just being in the military and doing the job isn’t the safest thing in the world.
It may not have been one piece of equipment involved. It could have been a collision or an accident in a building with multiple items inside destroyed/damaged or just one expensive building. If it was just one aircraft involved, off the top of my head I think the only Army asset that might be in that price range would be the RC-12. One did crash in Europe a few years ago
Correction: CSAR-X is only a $15 billion program…mixed it up with KC-X.
Wonder if the $16 billion claimed accident expense was just in the past 12 years as stated in one place, or since 1986 (22 years), as a year cited elsewhere?
Cole, A question:
Where are you getting anything in the article that indicated anyone thought ‘hotdogging’ was involved or that there was any agenda going on? Safety stats are routinely compiled and info used to promote safety and drive down the accident rate. there had to be no one looking for this information for it to come out. Perhaps there another article someplace that provided context for what stimulated your statement- something else we should know about?
SMsgMac, nope on other articles or official/rumored information.
But a google search for Army Class A accident information, blocked my access due to insufficient security certificate as I assume it would anyone else. That leads me to believe the information was gained via the freedom of information act. Why was only Army aviation of interest and why was money even an issue instead of the lives involved?
The 12 years vs 22 years is also important. If it was only $16 billion since 1986, that isn’t much moneywise…not that it should matter. Anytime money comes up, I smell an implication of waste or malfeasance by some.
Or maybe I’m paranoid. Our guys are pros and America is lucky to have them and their aircraft, just like in all the services.
“The mishaps have lead to 2,856 deaths.”
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I questioned this “fact” and found a Congressional Research Service study from 2002 that indicated that between 1980 and 2000, there were in fact 2,863 deaths associated with military aviation accidents….ACROSS ALL 4 SERVICES. The Army had 553, compared to 1153 for the USAF, 494 for the Marines, and 665 for the Navy.
In addition, comparing HELICOPTER accidents, between 1991 and 2001, the USAF helicopter fleet experienced 2.93 Class A accidents per 100,000 hours and the Marine experienced 2.84 Class As. The Army, according to this study, experienced 1.98 accidents per 100,000 hours in its nearly all helicopter fleet.
Sir: I would like to know how many Military personnel of all serviced,have died in 2008 serving through out the world? Of accident on or off duty?
I believe we have post in other country. Thanx..
We need to improve on these crshes with more military technogly