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Flying safe starts before you even start the engine.
In this video, Glen White from EuroSafety International walks you through the importance of a thorough helicopter preflight inspection and shares proven tips to catch issues before they become accidents.

According to the NTSB and US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST), up to 21% of helicopter accidents are linked to missed inspection items, many of which are preventable with a proper preflight.

Whether you fly an AS350, EC130, H125, or any other rotorcraft, this checklist will help you:
• Identify potential safety issues before takeoff
• Reduce mechanical failures and inflight emergencies
• Stay compliant with FAA and manufacturer requirements

✈️ EuroSafety International provides advanced helicopter pilot training with a focus on safety, real-world scenarios, and cutting-edge 3D training systems.

📌 Learn more: https://www.eurosafety.com

Conducting a proper preflight inspection is vital because it ensures the helicopter’s airworthiness and readiness for flight, catching potential mechanical issues, misconfigurations, or documentation gaps before takeoff can prevent accidents, save lives, and uphold safety standards.

Statistics & Evidence Supporting Its Importance:

1. Maintenance & Inspection as Accident Causes

Between 2005 and 2015, 14% to 21% of helicopter accidents in the U.S. civil fleet were directly caused by flawed maintenance and inspection practices.

Based on an average of 150 accidents per year, this translates into roughly 20-30 accidents annually tied to these errors, many of which could have been prevented with thorough preflight checks.

2. Timing: “Infant Mortality” in Flight Hours

About 31% of maintenance-related accidents occurred within the first 10 flight-hours post-maintenance, a window where issues introduced during servicing are most likely to manifest.

3. Real-World Tragedy from Inspection Failures

In a 2022 crash of a Robinson R44 helicopter in Charlotte, pilot and maintenance personnel failed to detect disconnected and missing hardware during inspections. The NTSB found this inadequate inspection was the probable cause of the fatal accident.

4. General Aviation Context (Broader Insight)

In general aviation (not helicopter-specific), poor preflight inspections were found to have caused or contributed to 156 accidents over 10 years, resulting in 41 fatalities.

5. Regulatory & Safety Emphasis

The U.S. Helicopter Safety Team and FAA frameworks underscore that a proper preflight inspection and final "walk-around" are essential in assessing airworthiness before flight, and promoting these procedures remains a high priority in preventing fatal accidents.

Bottom Line:

Skipping, or performing an incomplete, preflight inspection significantly increases the risk of mechanical failure, pilot error, or overlooked documentation that can lead to serious or fatal accidents. The statistics are clear: a meaningful percentage of helicopter accidents arise from inspection-related issues, especially within the first hours post-maintenance. That “pause-and-point” moment before flight literally stands between safe operation and disastrous consequences.

Knowledge is safety in the world of aviation.

Continuing Education

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