From 2006 to 2016, looking at US data only, the
NTSB records 67 fatals in Bells of all types, 66 fatals in Robinsons of all types. And we know that the fleet sizes are nearly equal in the US between the two makes. We don't know exactly how many hours each fleet does each year (but I would like to). So absent any reliable fleet hour data, if you are flying in the US it really doesn't matter if the name on the side starts with a "B" or an "R", except that it costs twice as much per hour to operate even the least expensive turbine machine, R66's included, and much more than that to operate something with at least four seats and at least three main rotor blades. At that level of cost differential, whether it's wholesale or retail, people will happily accept more risk to get in the sky in a helicopter. Except that the stat's say there really isn't any more risk one way or the other.
Now if you are flying in a country with a name that starts with "N" or "B", all bets are off!
