Insurance

[Nev]

A quick search on the NTSB website for Bearhawk shows seven recorded accidents.

Take a look at Aviation Safety Network which has captured 45 Bearhawk accidents, most are Loss of Control on Ground (the usual tail-dragged type of accident). Definitely worth getting Bearhawk type specific training before test flying, and staying really really current.

[Battson]

I have heard solid advice that the majority of Bearhawk loss-of-control on the ground accidents occur with second-hand owners, not the original builder. While the data seldom captures that metric - colloquially I would tend to trust the advice.

The Bearhawk is not difficult to handle on the ground or in the air, if you're current and practiced. Like any aircraft, if you're unfamiliar then there is considerably more risk.

[Battson]

While loss of control on landing appears to explain most accidents at a casual glance, thorough research gives a more informative picture. Clearly some AI was involved here:

The main underlying causes are winds exceeding pilot capability and poor technique (both signal lack of pilot currency or inattention).
Poor choice of landing surface and mechanical issues are also repeat issues.

Note that percentages and raw numbers on the tables aren't always additive, one incident can have multiple contributing factors.

Raw Dataset - All Data

Reported Cause	Number of Accidents (44 Total)
Loss of Control on Landing	32 (72%)
Loss of Control on Take-off	5 (11%)
Mechanical Issue	6 (13%)
Other Factors	10 (22%)

Detailed breakdown of the loss of control on landing incidents - All Data

Contributing Factor	Number of Accidents (32 Total)
Crosswind/Gust	15 (47%)
Bounced/Hard Landing (pilot-induced)	10 (31%)
Pilot Decision/Technique Issues (other)	8 (25%)
Mechanical Malfunction (e.g. engine, gear)	5 (16%)
Terrain/Runway Condition/Obstacles	7 (22%)

If we focus on the 2020 and onward dataset, we get a more recent and relevant picture of the current fleet:

19 accidents occurred since 2020, meaning almost 45% of the accidents occurred in just 25% of the period.

This is somewhat expected, because fleet numbers appear to be increasing sharply and more information is publicly available.

Raw Dataset - Post 2020

Reported Cause	Number of Accidents (19 Total)
Loss of Control on Landing	15 (78%)
Loss of Control on Take-off	3 (15%)
Mechanical Issue	4 (21%)
Other Factors	9 (47%)

Again, at a glance loss of control on landing dominates unless we dig deeper. A deeper dive starts to inform what's actually going on:

Detailed breakdown of the loss of control on landing incidents

Contributing Factor	Number of Accidents
Crosswind or Gusty Wind (landing in crosswind or gust conditions)	8
Tailwind on Landing	1
Bounced/Hard Landing (improper flare or touchdown)	6
Unstable Approach / Pilot Decision (e.g. continued high or sunstrike approach)	3
Mechanical – Engine failure or power loss on approach/landing	3
Mechanical – Landing Gear failure	1
Runway/Terrain Factors (uneven surface, obstacles, short runway)	6

Nearly all involved some degree of pilot control lapse.
Diving deeper still, crosswinds - often gusty - are the main issue in the "wind" group.

Summary of Detailed Breakdown - Post 2020

Underlying Cause Summary - Loss of Control on Landing	Number of Accidents - 19 Total
Wind as a Factor	9 (47%)
Pilot Technique	9 (47%)
Mechanical Failure	4 (21%)
Runway Selection	6 (32%)

Landing Phase During Incident

Flare/Touchdown	8
Rollout (post-touchdown)	7

Conclusion
Both crosswind control is factors in about half of all incidents resulting in a loss of control on landing. General pilot technique is also present in around half of cases. Poor runway selection is a factor in 1/3 of cases, and mechanical faults also occur (often forcing the landing). Pilot risk appetite, currency, or simply inattention are likely to be underlying factors. The landing phase a relatively brief but high risk moment in the average Bearhawk flight.


Recommendations

1. Train for Landing
   • Train specifically for crosswind landings, bounce recovery, and rollout control.
   • Practice go-arounds and avoid salvaging unstable landings.
2. Respect Wind
   • Avoid landing in gusty or crosswind conditions beyond your experience level.
   • Monitor wind shifts and be ready to abort if alignment is lost.
3. Maintain Directional Control Throughout Rollout
   • Stay active on rudder and brakes until full stop.
   • Don’t relax after touchdown, ground loops often happen late.
4. Know the Airstrip
   • Scout for obstacles at backcountry or grass fields.
5. Set Personal Limits and Stay Current
   • Use conservative wind and runway limits, especially when flying solo PIC or after a break.
   • Recurrent training helps maintain proficiency.

Opinion
Ultimately, the Bearhawk design is not inherently unsafe or hard to fly.
In fact, I think the ease of control often lulls pilots into situations which they would normally have avoided, if the aircraft were more challenging to control.
Pilots appear to be their own worst enemy when it comes to keeping the aeroplane shiny side up.

[zkelley2]

If landing incidents and accidents are number 1, it's likely that people don't have a stabilized approach. These generally go way way down if you have a stabilized approach criteria and stick to it hard. Go arounds are all but free, and are a lot cheaper than damaging anything at all on an aircraft.

If you're landing somewhere that there is a commit point, where go around is improbably successful, I guess ask yourself if you actually have the skill to be there or the risk tolerance.