# NTSB CEN24LA279: Evolution Revolt, N798EE, Rochelle, IL, July 21, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 20, 2024, 19:00 local (Jul 21, 2024, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Rochelle, IL · Field near off runway 25. - Coordinates: 41.889712, -89.090924 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8897&lon=-89.0909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Greater Chicago FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194749 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA279 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194749/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194749 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA279 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain terrain clearance during a low-level turn, that resulted in an impact with the ground. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was attempting to maneuver the weight-shift aircraft to avoid an incoming aircraft that was going to land at the airport. The pilot turned the aircraft “way too low” for a right crosswind, and during the turn, the wing contacted the ground, and the aircraft “tumbled.” The aircraft came to rest upright in a field populated with crops and the pilot was assisted by witnesses with evacuating from the aircraft. The pilot classified the accident as “pilot error.” The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wing and the fuselage. The pilot, who sustained serious injuries and was wearing a flight helmet, reported that he utilized only a lap belt, when a three-point restraint system was available in the cockpit. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N798EE (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: EVOLUTION AIRCRAFT INC REVOLT (NO SERIES) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 001035 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 136 - Engines: Rotax Aircraft Engines 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rceert LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2024, 4 hours before - Airport: RPJ, Rochelle Muni/Koritz Fld, runway 07/25, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review June 16, 2022; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 294.1 total, 140 in this make and model, 280 as pilot in command, 8.2 in the last 90 days, 5.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KRPJ, 1 nm away - METAR: KRPJ 202355Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/14 A3011 RMK AO2 T02350144 10248 20231 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240720014409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240720014409A), Jul 20, 2024: Evolution Aircraft Inc REVOLT, Rochelle, IL, Substantial damage. On July 19, 2024, at approximatley 1745 local [privacy data omitted] a light sport aircraft crashed into a soybean field shortly after departing runway 25 at… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194749. 6.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17503039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17503173&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.