For the average person, plane flights are certainly more common than helicopter flights. Many people have flown on airliners multiple times, for example, even if they have never been in a helicopter in their lives. This may contribute to the perception that helicopters are more dangerous, simply because people do not have as much experience with them.
But there is also a statistical correlation. The crash rate for helicopters is generally higher than that for airplanes, per the Federal Aviation Administration. Even among airplane accidents, small aircraft go down more often than large airliners, so helicopter crashes are certainly more common than commercial plane accidents. Helicopters have been getting safer, but some level of risk remains.
The role of pilot error
One thing that people point out about helicopter crashes, though, is that many of them are attributed to pilot error. For instance, a pilot may misread the weather conditions and operate their aircraft in a way that is unsafe, further increasing the accident risk.
A related issue is that operating a helicopter often requires intense concentration for an extended period of time. Once a plane has taken off and reached cruising altitude, for example, pilots may even be able to use autopilot or other automated features. In a helicopter, by contrast, the pilot is always in control of the aircraft, so this long-term concentration is critical. A lapse could cause a helicopter accident.
Aviation accidents can certainly be complex, especially when dealing with insurance companies and regulating government bodies, like the FAA. It can help to work with an experienced attorney while navigating this system.
