Every field has some flyers which are unsafe or wild. When one of these guys at my field goes up in the air, I immediately land my plane. I won't subject my plane to someone elses erratic flying style.

Considering the circumstances you claim, I would sue the guy who broke the pattern and caused the midair. You suffered damages by his negligence and / or his inability to control his plane. When you bring that to court, you will win. Nothing, including this hobby, is lawsuit-free. The club can do nothing for you ... but the courts can!! Don't be afraid to sue. You have a legal right, and no one can stop or condemn you for that.

Yes, it was an accident. But it sounds as if the other guy was at fault for the accident ... it's called NEGLIGENCE.

To accept this accident (or any mid-air) as part of the hobby, is like accepting car crashes just because we drive on the roads! Would you not sue someone for crashing into your car?

Also ... be courteous to others. If a guy wants to fly a heli for a little while, and your field does not have a separate location for helis, he should be able to fly his heli. What's the harm to let him have the full airspace for a few minutes?

Of all the fields I fly at, helicopters have their own space ... away from the planes. That is a good thing. Helicopters get in the way of planes, and tend to constantly fly over (buzz) the runway, which puts them in the way of the landing/takeoff pattern. It is not right when a heli guy uses the runway when there is a special area off to the side of the runway for helis.

When a guy flys his 3D plane or helicopter, I don't fly ... I wait. Same thing when jets fly ... they should have the airspace to themselves BECAUSE THEY NEED IT ... Actually, THEY NEED ALL OF IT. Jets fly too fast to be flying with slower planes, helis or 3D planes ... slow planes just get in the way of jets. Just land your plane and watch the jet fly ... it's a good show!