Location: Oshkosh, WI Accident Number: CEN23FA333
Date & Time: July 29, 2023, 12:27 Local Registration: N193AZ (A1); N221EL (A2)
Aircraft: Rotorway 162F (A1); ELA ECLIPSE 10 (A2)
Injuries: 2 Fatal (A1); 1 Serious, 1 Minor (A2)
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal (A1); Part 91: General aviation - Personal (A2)
On July 29, 2023, about 1227 central daylight time, 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; the pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger received minor injuries. Both aircraft were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights.
According to multiple videos and witness accounts, the gyroplane was approaching the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Ultralight/Homebuilt Rotorcraft runway from the south on the base leg when it executed a left 360° turn. The helicopter, which was positioned behind the gyroplane in the traffic pattern, was also approaching the runway on the base leg from the south following the north/south paved road. About 250 ft above ground level, the gyroplane impacted the left side of the helicopter (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. EAA Ultralight/Homebuilt Rotorcraft flight pattern with approximate collision point noted with a blue star.
Both aircraft descended in a near vertical attitude towards the terrain with debris separating from both aircraft. The helicopter impacted the terrain, came to rest inverted, and a postaccident fire ensued (see Figure 2). The gyroplane impacted an unoccupied parked fixed- wing airplane that was located between the north/south paved road and runway 36L (see Figure 3). No ground injuries were reported.
Figure 2. N193AZ Rotorway 162F helicopter
Figure 3. N221EL ELA Eclipse 10 gyroplane and unoccupied parked airplane
Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed both outboard sections of the main rotor blades were separated and came to rest in the debris field (see Figure 4). The main rotor blade’s structure displayed impact marks and white paint transfers, consistent with the gyroplane’s structure and paint color. The gyroplane’s right horizontal and vertical stabilizers displayed shear cuts and separated structure consistent with helicopter main rotor blade contact (see Figure 5). The gyroplane’s main rotor mast was separated about mid-length with an impact signature consistent with the helicopter’s main rotor blade (see Figure 6).
Examination of both aircraft revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Figure 4. Separated outboard sections of the helicopter’s main rotor blades
Figure 5. The upper photograph depicts the gyroplane’s separated right horizontal stabilizer and lower vertical stabilizer. The lower photograph depicts the separated stabilizer section in comparison with the helicopter main rotor blade contact witness marks and white paint transfer.
Figure 6. Gyroplane’s separated rotor mast section and the helicopter’s main rotor blade contact witness mark.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information (A1)
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Aircraft Make:
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Rotorway
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Registration:
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N193AZ
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Model/Series:
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162F
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Amateur Built:
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Yes
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Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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None
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Operator Designator Code:
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information (A2)
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Aircraft Make:
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ELA ECLIPSE
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Registration:
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N221EL
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Model/Series:
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10
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Amateur Built:
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Yes
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Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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None
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Operator Designator Code:
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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VMC
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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KOSH,785 ft msl
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Observation Time:
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10:53 Local
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Distance from Accident Site:
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1 Nautical Miles
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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24°C /14°C
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:
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7 knots / , 10°
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility:
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10 miles
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.08 inches Hg
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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Departure Point:
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Destination:
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Wreckage and Impact Information (A1)
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Crew Injuries:
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1 Fatal
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Aircraft Damage:
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Destroyed
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Passenger Injuries:
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1 Fatal
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Aircraft Fire:
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On-ground
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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On-ground
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Total Injuries:
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2 Fatal
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Latitude, Longitude:
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43.963719,-88.559711 (est)
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Wreckage and Impact Information (A2)
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Crew Injuries:
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1 Serious
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Aircraft Damage:
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Destroyed
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Passenger Injuries:
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1 Minor
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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1 Serious, 1 Minor
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Latitude, Longitude:
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43.963719,-88.559711 (est)
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Investigator In Charge (IIC): Sauer, Aaron
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Administrative Information
Additional Participating Persons: Michael Brockel; FAA FSDO; Milwaukee, WI
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