WPR21LA003

The pilot was departing on a personal flight in a light sport aircraft. Shortly after departing from the runway, the aircraft veered to the right and then banked to the right to clear a fence, after which the aircraft descended and struck a tree and a culvert wall. The engine was running throughout the flight. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Recorded engine data indicated that the engine was producing power at the time of the accident. Although the pilot’s experience in the light sport aircraft could not be established, a witness reported that, after a previous takeoff “a couple of years" before the accident, the pilot had incorrectly steered the aircraft toward the airport tower before recognizing the error and correcting the aircraft’s flightpath. The same witness also reported that departing aircraft typically make a left bank—rather than a right bank—after takeoff. Thus, during the accident takeoff, the pilot likely manipulated the steering controls incorrectly, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with the tree and culvert.

On October 4, 2020, about 0935 Pacific daylight time, an Evolution Revo weight-shift-control light sport aircraft (commonly referred to as a trike), N449WB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR) Hawthorne, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot was cleared to depart from runway 25 at HHR. Flight track data showed that, after departure, the aircraft veered slightly to the left of centerline and then began a right turn, after which the aircraft was no longer being tracked by radar. The aircraft impacted a tree and then the north wall of a culvert that was located about 1/4-mile northwest of the departure end of runway 25. A witness was performing a preflight on his gyrocopter when he saw the aircraft take off and climb to about 30 to 40 ft above ground level before banking right. The aircraft cleared the airport perimeter fence and continued to bank right until it was out of this witness’ sight. Another witness, who had flown the aircraft days before the accident, watched the aircraft depart from the runway and, soon afterward, saw the aircraft begin to bank to the right. He watched as the pilot “pushed the steering to the left and the aircraft banked harder to the right before flying into the drainage ditch.” He stated that aircraft departing from HHR typically make a left bank after takeoff because of the proximity of Los Angeles International airport to the right (north) of HHR. The witness also stated that the engine was running the entire time during the flight. The witness further stated he had met with the pilot earlier that morning and that the pilot was acting normally. In addition, the witness stated that “a couple of years ago” the pilot had departed from the runway and “steered” the aircraft directly toward the airport tower before correcting the aircraft’s flightpath and that the pilot had acknowledged his steering mistake. The pilot’s logbooks were not available during the investigation. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The propeller blades were missing material from their midsections to their tips. Recorded engine data indicated that the engine was producing power at the time of the accident.