Flight Instructor with student reported non-communicating helicopters entered the traffic pattern at a non-towered airport; causing the instructor to take evasive action.
Synopsis
Flight Instructor with student reported non-communicating helicopters entered the traffic pattern at a non-towered airport; causing the instructor to take evasive action.
Narrative
Day 0; two helicopters flew within 1 mile and within 400 feet of aircraft in the traffic pattern at ZZZ. These incidents happened during traffic pattern practice with two phase one students. At approximately XA:55am the first helicopter was noticed during the upwind leg on runway XX at ZZZ. It headed approximately in our direction from the southwest. Initially I thought it was an aircraft flying into or out of ZZZ1 or ZZZ2 and engaged in their operations. As it continued in our direction and turned closer to ZZZ as our aircraft was turning upwind to crosswind. The aircraft flew within a quarter mile of and 400 feet vertically separated from our aircraft. Student turned and early downwind to offset as it's a helicopter and wake turbulence from it would be hazardous. The helicopter was not communicating on the ZZZ CTAF or the ZZZ3. I called several times but the aircraft did no answer on either frequency. On the next traffic pattern a second helicopter did the same did the same thing as the first. It also arrived from the southwest going over the same airports an a nearly identical flight path. It flew within a mile of established traffic at ZZZ and within 500 feet vertically separated. Once again we had to modify our traffic pattern to safely avoid helicopter traffic. As the first; this helicopter was not communicating on the ZZZ or ZZZ3 CTAF. This is concerning as the wake turbulence from a helicopter is potentially hazardous. Additionally; a many number of solo students from ZZZ4 fly to this airport which is very concerning that helicopters are comfortable getting within on mile of traffic in the pattern.
Second reporter narrative
We were flying TP's (traffic patterns) in ZZZ. After 2nd and 3rd Touch and Go two Helicopter showed up on the Traffic Map flying in TPA toward us. Flight Instructor saw it and tried to reach the Pilot on ZZZ3 and ZZZ Frequency. No Response. We did an early turn to Crosswind and Downwind to avoid the situation.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.