Rotorway 162F accident near Oshkosh, WI
On July 29, 2023, a Rotorway 162F (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Oshkosh, WI. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 29, 2023
- Place
- Oshkosh, WI
- Aircraft
- Rotorway 162F · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 2 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.964°N, 88.560°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230729192738
Official records · CEN23FA333
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 29, 2023, about 1227 central daylight time (CDT), a Rotorway 162F helicopter, N193AZ, and an ELA Eclipse 10 gyroplane, N221EL, were involved in a midair collision near Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The helicopter was destroyed, and the pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The gyroplane was destroyed, and the pilot and passenger received serious injuries. Both aircraft were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. On the morning of the accident, both pilots attended an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh Ultralight/Homebuilt fun fly zone (FFZ) daily rotorcraft briefing. A witness, who attended multiple daily rotorcraft briefings, reported that the briefings contained concerns from other pilots related to gyroplane operations. The gyroplane pilots were told by event coordinators, in part, to stop performing 360° turns and spirals while in the traffic pattern. In addition, coordinators repeated their daily request for pilots to communicate their intentions in the traffic pattern. According to onboard GPS and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, the gyroplane departed Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin, runway 36, traveled to the south, west, and back to the north to enter the ultralight/homebuilt rotorcraft runway traffic pattern near the intersection of Highway 26 and County Road N. According to ADS-B data and an onboard GoPro video camera, the helicopter departed the designated rotorcraft takeoff and landing zone, which was located to the west of the ultralight/ho
Probable cause
The failure of the gyroplane pilot to see and avoid the helicopter while maneuvering in the traffic pattern. Contributing to the accident was the gyroplane pilot’s performance of a prohibited maneuver in the traffic pattern.
More accidents in WI
- Douglas DC-9-14, Sep 6, 1985
- Beech 200, Nov 16, 1987
- Piper PA-28-140, Feb 3, 1991
- Piper PA-32R-300, Aug 19, 1990
- Cessna 421C, Jul 1, 2017
Browse: Wisconsin · Rotorway aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
