Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 7300; Flight Crew Type 4000
Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Environment - Non Weather Related
During the transition to landing in a C-172 at approximately five feet above the runway surface; two helicopters flying in loose formation; were also preparing to land in the grass field just south of the runway at West Point/Middle Peninsula Regional Airport. As the helicopters were making a descending right turn; the rotor vortices apparently were directed into the flight path of the landing runway (Runway 10). The wake vortex caused the C-172 to immediately bank left and climb without any input from the student pilot. At this moment; the instructor took control and executed go-around procedures to avoid going off the runway and impacting the terrain at a high rate of descent just north of the runway. Pilots in all three aircraft were in visual contact with one another. However; it does not appear any of the pilots in any of the aircraft involved were aware of the effects the rotor wash would have on the runway of intended landing. The effects of rotor wash from two helicopters flying in loose formation may have also contributed to the incident.It is my objective that pilots in all aircraft conducting approaches to landing understand the importance of maintaining proper separation from rotorcraft. There is a high volume of rotorcraft traffic in Virginia's Tidewater region. They frequently practice traffic pattern operations at uncontrolled airfields where many students are learning to fly. This incident could have easily resulted in an accident causing serious injury or death under slightly different circumstances. If a student pilot was flying solo; I don't think the outcome would have been the same.
C172 Instructor Pilot reported executing a go-around from low altitude after encountering rotor wash from two nearby helicopters.