The gyroplane and unoccupied parked airplane. [Courtesy: NTSB]
Key Takeaways:
A fatal midair collision at last year's EAA AirVenture was caused by a gyroplane pilot violating Fun Fly Zone (FFZ) procedures with a prohibited 360-degree turn.
The incident resulted in two fatalities, two serious injuries, and the destruction of an unoccupied aircraft on the ground.
In response, EAA AirVenture has implemented strict new procedural changes, including a "one strike and you're out" rule for FFZ operations.
Additional changes include standardized briefings, traffic patterns, spotter locations, and a designated sterile corridor to enhance safety.
One strike and you’re out. This rule is among the procedural changes for EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in response to a deadly midair collision between a helicopter and gyrocopter last year.
The aircraft were flying in the pattern of the Fun Fly Zone (FFZ), which is located in the Ultralight area.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
