WPR22LA258

The pilot and passenger were on a personal flight in the weight-shift-control trike and had just completed a touch and go when they departed north, in the direction of the accident site. There were no witnesses to the accident, but nearby residences reported an electrical power outage at the time of the accident. Two hills adjacent to the accident site had a single power pole at each of their summits that supported three transmission lines between them. The weight-shift-control trike collided with the transmission lines that spanned the valley and impacted the ground north of the transmission lines. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

On July 17, 2022, about 0810 Pacific daylight time, an Evolution Revolt, weight-shift-control light sport airplane, N258MH, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Walter Springs, California. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The family member of the passenger reported that the pilot and passenger departed from Yolo Country Airport (DWA) on the morning of the accident. They performed a touch and go landing at Angwin Airport-Parratt Field (2O3), Angwin, California, and departed to the north to the area near the accident site. There were no known witnesses to the accident; however, nearby residences reported an electrical power outage about 0810 the morning of the accident. Cal Fire was notified of a small vegetation fire in the area and when they extinguished the fire, they discovered the trike and occupants. An examination of the accident site revealed that the trike came to rest in a wooded valley at an elevation of 660 ft mean sea level. A small area fire ensued, consuming some of the wreckage. Two hills adjacent to the accident site had a single power pole at each of their summits that supported three transmission lines between them. The transmission lines measured about 2,195 ft in length, which spanned the valley near the accident site. The trike impacted the terrain about 310 ft north of the transmission lines. The wing structure and carriage which remained partially attached and had impact and thermal damage. The family member reported that he had flown a similar flight with the accident pilot, in the accident airplane, a week before the accident flight. He said that during his flight, they departed from DWA where the airplane was based, and performed one touch-and-go landing at 2O3. They departed the area and flew North near the accident site, maintaining an altitude of about 1,500 ft above ground level, then East to Colusa County Airport (O08), Colusa, California, where they did another touch-and-go landing. They continued to fly in the area and ended the flight back at DWA. He did not report any problems during the flight. Figure 1-Google Earth view of the accident site. Postaccident examination of the trike revealed the wing had impact and thermal damage. None of the sail material was present. The left wing strut was mostly consumed by the postimpact fire; however, the attachment fittings remained attached to the cross tube and leading edge connection. The right wing strut control tube attachment was thermally damaged. The cross tube had thermal damage to the left side. Both the left and right leading edge tubes had bending, separations, and thermal damage. The front flying wires remained attached to the swan catch. The right front flying wire revealed overload signatures about halfway through the cable’s length. The right rear flying wire remained attached to the control frame and separated at its rear attachment.The left rear flying wire and the haul back cable were found in multiple sections with the main wreckage. The hang bolt remained attached to the hang block, wing keel, right side of the control frame and part of the trike’s upper structure assembly. Numerous battens were located. The battens had thermal damage and were bent and broken. Most of the control frame was consumed by postimpact fire. The fuel tank and cap had thermal damage and was identified within bent structural tubing. The parachute system was identified, and the rocket container had signatures of deployment postaccident. Parachute material was found melted into a small plastic mass. The engine was separated from the main wreckage. Both magnetos and the induction assembly had thermal damage. The fuel pump remained attached and was disassembled. The fuel pump assembly was unremarkable. The gearbox was removed, and gear marks were evident on the crankcase side. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The autopsy and toxicology reports for the pilot were requested, but not received from the Napa County Coroner’s Office.