3.1 The Group decided that a review of all GA accidents (over 250 per year) and
incidents was impracticable. There was a risk that some significant issues could be
outweighed by relatively minor accidents such as landing gear collapses. It was
agreed that the review would concentrate on fatal accidents to UK registered
aeroplanes and helicopters of 5700kg maximum take-off mass and below which
occurred in the UK and abroad during the 10 year period 1 January 1985 to
31 December 1994. Microlights, gyroplanes and gliders were excluded as they have
different airworthiness codes and pilot licensing standards. This provided a
manageable number of accidents (166) for analysis while it corresponded with the
CAP 542 work (aeroplanes).
3.2 Fatal accidents where there was only third party involvement (e.g. people moving
into rotating propellers or rotors) were included since these could have been
affected by the operational environment.
3.3 The CAA's Mandatory Occurrence Reporting Scheme records all significant
hazardous or potentially hazardous occurrences as well as accidents. For the
purposes of this review, the occurrence computer database did not contain sufficient
background material on the fatal accidents so Air Accidents Investigation Branch
(MB) Bulletins, occurrence files and licensing records as well as other sources were
used.
3.4 A number of accidents, 20 (12%), involved UK registered aircraft flying outside the
UK and, thus, were investigated by foreign authorities. Very few had produced
adequate reports and in spite of enquiries via Air Accidents Investigation Branch,
very little has been forthcoming and, in most cases, it was not possible to allocate
any causal factors. The 1987 accident review group also experienced this difficulty.