2003 Homebuilt Accident Rates Much Lower Than Previous Year

With most of what are historically the year's two busiest flying months (August and September) ahead of us, EAA wants to re-emphasize to all pilots to pay extra close attention to flight safety and flying safely.

EAA reported a welcome trend in March this year when it was announced by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that the homebuilt aircraft accident rate for fiscal year 2002-2003 (ended September 30, 2003) dropped 25 percent, from 218 to 164, from the previous year. More remarkably, fatal accidents for homebuilts dropped 36 percent, from 71 to 52, during that same time frame when amateur-built aircraft registrations surpassed 25,000 in the US alone.

The FAA specifically recognized EAA's homebuilt programs as major factors leading to the reduced homebuilt accident rate. These include Technical Counselors and Flight Advisors, as well as the Homebuilt Aircraft Council and the new volunteer amateur-built designated airworthiness representative (AB-DAR) program.

EAA President Tom Poberezny also credits the valuable "peer influence" provided by more than 900 EAA Chapters in the US for the lower accident rate. EAA Chapters often include a number of experienced builders and pilots who provide an excellent forum for fellow enthusiasts as they complete their aircraft projects. Most EAA Technical Counselors and Flight Advisors are associated with at least one local EAA Chapter.

The total number of fatal accidents for all of GA (including the amateur-built total) stood at 266 as of August 10. Projected to the end of FY 2003-2004, the total would be 334, which are fewer fatalities than FAA Administrator Marion Blakey's "cap" of 349 established earlier this year.

Similarly, EAA established a cap for homebuilts to further reduce fatal accidents (such as the one depicted above, in Seal Beach, California, last month) to 48 in FY 2003 - 2004 ending September 30. As of August 10, NTSB reported 44 fatal accidents involving amateur-built aircraft. Over the past five years, September and October average 11 fatal homebuilt accidents. If that holds true, the FY 2003-2004 totals would be about 51, surpassing EAA's cap by three, but more significantly, continuing the downward trend. 

FMI: www.eaa.org