A helicopter is destroyed after a midair collision at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh July 29, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The pilot of a gyroplane involved in a mid-air collision at EAA Airventure July 29 made a 360-degree turn into the path of a helicopter shortly before the two collided, sending both aircraft to the ground and killing two people in the helicopter, according to a report released Thursday.
The National Transportation Safety Board says Eric Bruce’s gyroplane was approaching the Ultralight/Homebuilt Rotorcraft runway from the south when it turned 360 degrees to the left. The helicopter was behind the gyroplane in the traffic pattern and also approaching the runway from the south. About 250 feet above ground, the gyroplane hit the left side of the helicopter. Two people who were in the helicopter were killed: Mark Peterson, 69, of Foley, Alabama, and Thomas Volz, 72, of Clermont County, Ohio.
Bruce told investigators his recollection of the events have been impaired by the head injuries he suffered in the crash. He has determined there was a call from air traffic controllers to make space for departing traffic. Since he could not hover, he did the 360-degree turn, which he believed was safer than other options.
“As I neared completion of the 360-degree turn with the intent to rejoin the base leg, the regrettable midair collision occurred. Obviously, I do not recall seeing the other aircraft prior to the impact, and from my difficult review of the video, it does not appear that the gentlemen in the helicopter behind me ever saw my aircraft make the 360-degree spacing turn,” Bruce’s statement says.
A passenger in the gyroplane, Randy Schulz, gave this description:
While coming into land at the ultralight grass runway, the pilot did what he referred to as an impressive tight left turn, which he did not know the reason for doing the left turn. The next thing he heard was a loud pop and the gyroplane was going to the ground. Mr. Schulz was awake during the entire time. The gyroplane came to rest and his right leg was pinned under the pilot, who was unconscious. Mr. Schulz exited the gyroplane and was ultimately assisted by medical persons.
The NTSB report rules out mechanical issues.
“Examination of both aircraft revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation,” it states.
One witness called Bruce’s turn “odd.”
“(An officer) had asked me if anything stood out as out of the ordinary and I truly had thought prior to the incident that the hard 180 degree turn by the gyrocopter in the pattern was odd. A go around procedure is not to make a hard 360 in your current leg of the pattern, but rather to make another full pattern.”
Another person who was at the pilot briefings said 360-degree turns were addressed at the sessions.
“During each daily pilot briefing the same issue was brought up: problems with the autogyros. There were several incidents during each of the daily rotorcraft flyby sessions that caused requests for the autogiro pilot to comply with traffic pattern standards. … The pilots were asked repeatedly to stop doing 360 turns and spirals while in the traffic pattern. They were also asked to stop slowing down as if to land (on the grass runway) then unexpectedly climbing back up into the traffic pattern,” she wrote.
According to the reports, Bruce had given many rides in his aircraft, but this was the first event at which he gave rides in his gyroplane.
“Over the years, Mr. Bruce has provided 100’s of rides to various people in his aircraft as he wanted to share the experience with as many people as possible. In retrospect, Mr. Bruce said due to the chaotic nature of flying at OSH during AirVenture, he would never consider doing it again,” the report states.
As a result of the crash, the NTSB offered proposed operational changes to AirVenture, including standardized briefings, standard flight patterns, and “Changing traffic route along fence line to provide sterile corridor.”
The collision shut down aircraft operations at the airport for about two hours. It came just hours after another plane crashed into Lake Winnebago, killing two people on board. The NTSB report on that crash has not been completed.
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