# NTSB WPR21LA003: Evolution Revo, N449WB, Hawthorne, CA, October 4, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 4, 2020, 09:35 local (16:35 UTC) - Place: Hawthorne, CA - Coordinates: 33.92385, -118.3311 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9239&lon=-118.3311&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Evolution Aircraft Inc., FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102078 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102078/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102078 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA003 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Evolution REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=060009B), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [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 REVO, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=060009B), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); 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) - [Initial climb: 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 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N449WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N449WB-2022-04-02), registration cancelled 2022-04-02, S/N 000614, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Evolution 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: Airplane - Serial number: 000614 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 1093 - Engines: Rotax 912iS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Joe K Audette - Registered owner: Joe K Audette - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2020 - Airport: HHR, Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport, runway 25, 4,884 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: fatal; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 0 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: HHR ## 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 20201004016819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201004016819A), Oct 4, 2020: Evolution Aircraft Inc REVO, Hawthorne, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The pilot took off at approximately 0936 at which time the weight-shift-controlled aircraft veered to the right and flew towards the culvert approximately 350… ## Docket (16 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102078. 8.9 MB in all. - Atc-image of flight track overview (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 373 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14741493&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flight%20Track%20Overview-Rel.pdf - ATC track raw data (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14740469&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N449WB%20-%20OV%20Track%20Data-Rel.pdf - Google earth aerial imagery (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14737299&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GE%20Aerial%20Views-Rel.pdf - Witness statements-hawthorne pd excerpt (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14740694&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Memorandum%20PD%20Witness%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Record of memorandum-witness statement correction (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14748663&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Memorandum-Boger%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Hawthorne police department-combined reports (item 6, PDF, 21 pages, 727 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14740515&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Hawthorne%20PD-%20Combined%20Reports_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA accident site-notes (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14740260&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Onsite%20Notes_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB wreckage examination summary (item 8, PDF, 7 pages, 7 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14740369&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA003%20Engine%20and%20Airframe%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Evolution trikes-examination notes (item 9, PDF, 4 pages, 385 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14741321&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Re_%20Evolution%20Exam%20Notes%20of%20Photos_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email-engine data line charts (item 10, PDF, 5 pages, 948 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14740623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Follow-up%20Engine%20Data_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance logbook entries (item 11, PDF, 1 page, 821 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14740704&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Logbook%20Entries_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email-traffic at hhr (item 12, PDF, 1 page, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14742149&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RE_%20WPR21LA003%20_%20ATC%20PRELIM%20_%20Update%201_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 13, PDF, 1 page, 806 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14740349&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Evolution%20Trikes%20Party%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 14, PDF, 1 page, 544 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14741419&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicology report (item 15, PDF, 1 page, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14740605&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Tox1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array-faa onsite (courtesy of FAA) (item 16, PDF, 3 pages, 542 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14964125&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-FAA%20Onsite-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.