# NTSB ERA24FA395: Evolution Revo, N889HT, Zephyrhills, FL, September 25, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: September 25, 2024, 07:10 local (11:10 UTC) - Place: Zephyrhills, FL - Coordinates: 28.226669, -82.155645 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2267&lon=-82.1556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195191 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24FA395 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195191/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195191 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA395 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to ensure the haul back cable was securely connected to the “J” hook prior to departing on the accident flight, which resulted in the cable becoming disconnected and the wings folding up during flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=060009B), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Wing structure: attach fittings (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md?model=060009B), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Evolution REVO, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=060009B), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Evolution REVO, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060009B), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Evolution REVO, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060009B), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident occurred during an instructional flight in a weight-shift-control aircraft. A witness reported hearing a popping sound and then saw the aircraft descending in a nose-down attitude with what he thought were flames coming from the aircraft. The aircraft continued to descend and impacted on the terrain. An airport security video captured the aircraft in a nose-down attitude with the wings folded back as it descended. The video showed that in the early morning, low light conditions, the aircraft’s position lights were on. This was likely what the witness thought was flames coming from the aircraft. Postaccident examination of the wreckage confirmed that there was no evidence of an inflight fire; however, a postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage. The examination also found that the flight control cables were all connected to their respective connections. The haul back cable was found disconnected at the “J” hook, and the “J” hook was otherwise intact. The haul back cable allowed the wings to be folded for transport and storage of the aircraft. An inflight disconnection would have allowed the wings to fold back during flight. Based on this information, it is likely that the flight instructor did not secure the end of the haul back cable into the “J” hook prior to departing and the haul back cable detached during flight, which allowed the wings to fold up. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 25, 2024, about 0710 eastern daylight time, an Evolution Aircraft Inc. Revo weight-shift-control aircraft, N889HT, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Zephyrhills, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot were fatally injured. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to a witness, he was standing outside when he heard the aircraft flying and thought he heard the sound of the engine sputtering. He looked up at the aircraft and heard a popping noise, then saw it descending toward the ground in a nose-down attitude with flames coming from the aircraft. The aircraft continued to descend and impacted terrain. Security video obtained from a business across the street from the accident site revealed the aircraft was in a nose-down attitude with the wings folded back just before impact. The aircraft had several navigation lights that were on during the early morning hour. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION An examination of the wreckage at the accident site revealed that the aircraft came to rest in a field with a compact wreckage distribution. There was no evidence of an inflight fire; however, a postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage. All flight control cables were connected to their respective connections except the haul back cable, which was disconnected at the “J” hook. The safety latch was intact. The engine examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was conducted by the Office of the Medical Examiner, Pinellas County Science Center, Largo, Florida. The autopsy reported the cause of death for the flight instructor as blunt force injuries. An autopsy was not performed on the student pilot. Toxicology testing performed by the FAA Forensic Services Laboratory on the student pilot’s blood identified no evidence of impairing drugs. Toxicology testing performed by the FAA Forensic Services Laboratory on the instructor’s blood identified that Rosuvastatin was detected. Rosuvastatin (Crestor) is a prescription cholesterol medication and is acceptable for pilots. Alfuzosin was also detected. Alfuzosin (Uroxatral) is an alpha-1-adrenoceptor antagonist used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Alfuzosin is acceptable for pilots. Tadalafil was detected. Tadalafil (Cialis) is a PDE5 inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Side effects include vision and hearing changes. Tadalafil is conditionally acceptable for pilots depending on the dosage and the condition being treated. Higher doses require a 24-hour waiting period. None of these medications were generally considered impairing. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The haul back cable on the accident aircraft was used for folding and unfolding the wings. It was a cable that ran through the wing’s center,allowing the pilot to retract the wings for transport or storage. The haul back cable was pulled tight to unfold the wings and attached to the “J” hook at the front center wing section. It was attached by hooking into the “J” hook and under the spring lock. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N889HT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N889HT), registered now, S/N 000612, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EVOLUTION AIRCRAFT INC REVO - Registry model: [Evolution REVO](https://openairdocs.org/model/evolution-revo) (registry code 060009B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (registry code 55593, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift, amateur-built - Serial number: 000612 - Year built: 2015 - Engines: Rotax 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: ZPH, Zephyrhills, FL - Airport: ZPH, Zephyrhills Municipal Airport - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 74; injuries: fatal; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, unknown; last flight review April 4, 2024; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed - Student pilot; injuries: fatal; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: ZPH - METAR: KZPH 251115Z AUTO 08004KT 10SM CLR 24/24 A2990 RMK A02 T02400240 ## 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 20240925016039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240925016039A), Sep 25, 2024: Evolution Aircraft Inc REVO, Zephyrhills, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. [privacy data omitted] Took off from zph around 0700 with [privacy data omitted]/CFI and a non-certificated student on board. Aircraft was north bound when it… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195191. 3.3 MB in all. - Witness statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 253 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18594125&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=witness%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 2, MOV, 430 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18342981&FileExtension=mov&FileName=Video-Rel.mov - Wreckage examination summary (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18598785&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18444040&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report - flight instructor (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18444700&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=TOX-FIv1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report - student pilot (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18599156&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=TOX-sp_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18593730&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release-of-Wreckage_Redacted-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.