# Accident 20241007015009A: Rotorsport Uk Ltd CAVALON, Chico, CA, October 7, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 7, 2024, 16:41 local time
- Place: Chico, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7460° N, 121.8027° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7460&lon=-121.8027&mi=10
- Aircraft: N726CA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N726CA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Rotorsport UK CAVALON (registry code 7980111, https://openairdocs.org/model/rotorsport-uk-cavalon) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROTORSPORT UK LTD CAVALON
- Reported engine: ROTAX 915 IS
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 130 total, 130 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA005) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241007015009A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT REPORTED IN A TELEPHONE STATEMENT THAT HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND AND ON FINAL APPROACH FOR CHICO ON 10/7/2024. THE PILOT DECIDED TO DEVIATE FROM THE APPROACH AND OBTAINED ATC CLEARANCE TO OVERFLY HIS WOODED PROPERTY AT 1100 AGL. THE PILOT CIRCLED THE WOODED AREA AT THIS LOW ALTITUDE. AFTER MULTIPLE ROTATIONS, THE PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE VALLEY AND HIS ESCAPE FROM THE TOWERING REDWOODS. THE PILOT STATED HE MUST HAVE INCREASED PITCH TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT DOWN TO GAIN A BETTER VIEW OF THE PROPERTY AND AT ONE POINT HIS AIRSPEED WAS 0 AND HE WAS LOSING ALTITUDE. HE RECOVERED BY LOWERING THE PITCH AND INCREASING THE THROTTLE BUT STILL HAD THE RPM REDUCED WITH THE PROP. HE PITCHED UP TO TRY TO CLEAR THE TREES BUT HIT THE TREES AND ROLLED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 4NM SE OF CHICO AIRPORT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REDWOODS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SUBSTANTIAL AIRCRAFT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE IMPACT OF THE TREE. AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE WERE BOTH OPERATING AS EXPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR25LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA005), Oct 7, 2024: Rotorsport Cavalon (N726CA), Chico, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent descent and subsequent collision with trees.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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