A note on Official reports from some who has read all of them which have involvied aerial filming.
Comparing accident reports to 1st hand accounts you would think that reading the official report that the media crew had no influence on the pilot.
We know they are capable of corrupting, distracting and confusing.

In developed countries there were only a few incidents that could/should have been reported that were not. (Incident defined for my list as damage to aircaft or camera or injuries to crew.

In a large number of incidents it took additional sources of information and research to join the dots as to the detailed purpose of the flight.
For instance a crash of a two seater with photograher on board is one thing but if it transpires the photographer was also shooting video and they were orbiting a subject and spun in then it is of relevance if one is to educate pilots of the issues in trying to achieve a smooth orbit of a subject on a breezy day.

A comparitivly large number of "close calls" go unreported and it is not PC to discuss in public thus depriving the industry of, in my view, at least a three times greater incident base from which to learn.


Mickjoebill

Here are some numbers for the US from a NTSB Database Search I did.


Leading Causes of Fatal Turbine Rotorcraft Accidents (US) 2004-2014



Fatal Accidents (totals past 10 years) (108)


Collision with Wires/Obstacles 26



Inadvertent IMC 15



Main Rotor Blades/System Failure 9



Spatial Disorientation 9



Mid Air Collision7



Fuel Exhaustion5



Engine Failure Mechanical (Single Engine)5



Undetermined 5



Pilot Medical Incapacitation 3



Over Gross Weight CFIT3



Tailrotor/Drive Failure3



Dynamic Rollover 2



Undetermined (Not Engine Related)2



Passenger Bumped Controls2



Ground Personnel Contact with Rotors2



Failed Attempt at Aerobatic Maneuvers2



Ext. Load Contacted Tail rotor 1



Hydraulic Failure1



Bird Strike1



Engine Failure (Twin engine Helicopter)1



Twin engine helicopter took off with one engine at idle (CFIT)1



Controlled Flight into Water While Filming1



Took off with Pedals Locked1



Loss of Tail rotor Effectiveness1

Would like to see stats from similar industries as a comparison helicopter flying will never be without risk but I still feel more nervous in a car