# NTSB GAA18CA499: Evolution Trikes Revo, N145PT, Hawthorne, CA, August 21, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 21, 2018, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Hawthorne, CA - Coordinates: 33.922779, -118.33361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9228&lon=-118.3336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98122 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA499 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98122/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98122 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA499 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain lateral control of the weight-shift-controlled aircraft during the landing flare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor in the weight-shift-controlled aircraft reported that, during a demonstration flight, during the landing flare, he observed the wind sock shift 90°, and he felt a violent wind gust from the left that lifted the left wing. He attempted to lower the left wing, but the right wing impacted the ground, and the aircraft cartwheeled before coming to rest. The flight instructor reported that, after the accident, an airport worker reported to him that he had been caught in a "dust devil." The weight-shift-controlled aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the weight-shift-controlled aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 13 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 230° at 8 knots. The weight-shift-controlled aircraft landed on runway 25. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor in the weight-shift control aircraft reported that, during a demonstration flight, during the landing flare, he observed the wind sock shift 90° and he felt a violent wind gust from the left that lifted the left wing. He attempted to lower the left wing, but the right wing impacted the ground, and the aircraft cartwheeled before coming to rest. The flight instructor reported that, after the accident, an airport worker reported to him that he had been caught in a "dust devil". The weight-shift control aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the weight-shift control aircraft that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 1243 Pacific daylight time, 13 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 230° at 8 knots, 7 statute miles, few clouds at 2,900 ft, temperature 81°F, dew point 66°F. The weight-shift control aircraft landed on runway 25. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N145PT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N145PT-2021-10-02), registration cancelled 2021-10-02, S/N 000557, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EVOLUTION TRIKES REVO - Registry model: [Evolution Trikes REVO](https://openairdocs.org/model/evolution-trikes-revo) (registry code 060007Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 000557 - Year built: 2010 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pacific Blue Air, Inc. - Registered owner: Daniel R. White - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: HHR, Hawthorne, CA - Destination: HHR, Hawthorne, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: HHR, Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne, runway 25, 4,884 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Video recording device, Airframe parachute, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 62; injuries: minor; commercial, sport pilot, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 5, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,550 total, 340 in this make and model, 3,057 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KHHR ## 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 20180821011959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180821011959A), Aug 21, 2018: Evolution Trikes REVO, Hawthorne, CA, Substantial damage. On Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at approximately 11:30 am pacific daylight time (PDT), an Evolution Trikes Revo with Rotax engine registered N145PT and operated by… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 1, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98122. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 207 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467936&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.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.