Helicopter main rotor blade injury to the head with survival.

Introduction Rotor blade lllJunes are uncommon in the Armed Forces because of continual safety training and protection in relation to the use of helicopters. Rarely, accidents do still happen as a reminder that even with acute awareness of ground movements, incidents will occur. A review of the total United States Army rotor blade accidents between 1972 and 1991 reported 24 strike injuries, 12 of which involved the main rotor. Eleven died, the majority from a crushed skull or decapitation. It is of interest that 22 of these injuries occurred during daylight hours with no accidents occurring at night. We report a head injury in a soldier who survived following a major main rotor blade injury occurring in daylight. The helmet gave very good protection and technical information is given in this paper. The major clinical problem remaining is a profound 8th nerve deafness, but he made an otherwise full recovery.