# NTSB WPR10CA224: Evolution Trikes Revo, N98EV, Eleele, HI, April 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 19, 2010, 09:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Eleele, HI - Coordinates: 21.919166, -159.635833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.9192&lon=-159.6358&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75927 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75927/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75927 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA224 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power as a result of fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper decision to continue the flight after the low fuel warning. Contributing to the accident was the typographical error in the flight manual concerning the unusable fuel quantity. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel quantity indicator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022841/cases.md) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Design: design of document/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04011020): Organizational issues › Development · Manufacturer (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04011020/cases.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04011020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Evolution Trikes REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=060007Z), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: 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 sport instructor pilot reported that during a student pilot’s first dual instructional flight, the engine lost power while on a 1.5 mile final to land. The instructor made a forced landing on a dirt road during which the trike nosed over. Post accident examination of the trike revealed 1.2 gallons of fuel remained in the tank, which is at or below the empty markings of the fuel tank. The manufacturer reported that the unusable fuel level is 1.4 gallons. The aircraft was equipped with a fuel monitoring system that activates once the fuel level drops below 2.7 gallons. The pilot told witnesses that he had observed the low fuel warning on the instrument panel. The aircraft flight manual had a typographical error, which stated the unusable fuel was 0.4 gallons. As a result of this accident investigation the manufacturer corrected the error and reissued the corrected page to the aircraft flight manual. ## Factual narrative The sport pilot instructor reported that during the student pilot’s first dual instructional flight the engine quit while on a 1.5 mile final to land. The instructor made a forced landing on a dirt road during which the trike nosed over. Post accident examination of the trike revealed 1.2 gallons of fuel remained in the tank, which is at or below the empty markings of the fuel tank. The manufacturer reported that the unusable fuel level is 1.4 gallons. The aircraft was equipped with a fuel monitoring system that activates once the fuel level drops below 2.7 gallons. The pilot told witnesses that he had observed the low fuel warning on the instrument panel. The aircraft flight manual had a typographical error, which stated the unusable fuel was 0.4 gallons. As a result of this accident investigation the manufacturer corrected the error and reissued the corrected page to the aircraft flight manual. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98EV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98EV-2018-06-08), registration cancelled 2018-06-08, S/N 000551, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Evolution Trikes REVO - Registry model: [Evolution Trikes REVO](https://openairdocs.org/model/evolution-trikes-revo) (registry code 060007T) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 000551 - Airframe hours: 24 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Birds in Paradise LLC - Registered owner: Birds in Paradise LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 16, 2010, 8 hours before - Departed: PAK, Eleele, HI - Destination: PAK, Eleele, HI - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: PAK, Port Allen Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 50; injuries: minor; flight instructor; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 12, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 17,013 total, 3 in this make and model, 57 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: PHLI, 16 nm away ## Other investigations on N98EV (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 WPR14FA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA135), Mar 11, 2014: Evolution Trikes Revo (N98EV), Kekaha, HI, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's reconfiguration of the fuel venting system, which resulted in a loss of engine power and subsequent loss of aircraft control. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75927. 955 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330797&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement - Johnson (item 2, .PDF, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20-%20Johnson-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Instrument Panel (item 3, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Instrument%20Panel-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Main Wreckage (item 4, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Main%20Wreckage-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.