The flow structure around a rotating axial-fan was experimentally investigated using a phase averaging velocity field measurement technique. The fan blades were divided into 4 different phases, for which 500 velocity fields were acquired for each phase angle with a 2-frame PTV system. Velocity field measurements were also carried out at two planes parallel to the axis of rotation, with offsets toward the radial direction of the fan. For accurate synchronization of the PTV system with the phase of the axial fan, two synchronization circuits were employed with a photo-detector attached to the rotating shaft. The phase averaged velocity fields show periodic variations with respect to the blade phase. The periodic formation of vortices at the blade tip is also observed in vorticity contour plots. Locations of local maximum turbulence intensities in the axial and radial directions are found to be located in an alternating pattern. These experimental results can be used to validate numerical calculations and to understand the flow characteristics of an axial fan.