Accident Overview
On July 17, 2022, about 0810 Pacific daylight time, an Evolution Revolt weight-shift-control light sport airplane, registration 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.
Pre-Accident Flight
A family member of the passenger reported that the pilot and passenger departed from Yolo County Airport (DWA) on the morning of the accident. They performed a touch-and-go landing at Angwin Airport-Parratt Field (2O3) in Angwin, California, and then departed to the north to the area near the accident site. There were no known witnesses to the accident. Nearby residences reported an electrical power outage about 0810 that morning. Cal Fire was notified of a small vegetation fire in the area and, upon extinguishing the fire, discovered the trike and occupants.
Accident Site and Wreckage
Examination of the accident site revealed that the trike came to rest in a wooded valley at an elevation of 660 feet 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 summit, supporting three transmission lines between them. The transmission lines measured about 2,195 feet in length and spanned the valley near the accident site. The trike impacted the terrain about 310 feet north of the transmission lines.
Examination of Airframe and Engine
The wing structure and carriage remained partially attached and had impact and thermal damage. Postaccident examination of the trike revealed that 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, but 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 its length. The right rear flying wire remained attached to the control frame and separated at its rear attachment. The left rear flying wire and 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; they 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 were 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; it 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.
Additional Information
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. During that flight, they departed from DWA, performed one touch-and-go landing at 2O3, then flew north near the accident site at an altitude of about 1,500 feet above ground level, and continued to Colusa County Airport (O08) for another touch-and-go landing before returning to DWA. No problems were reported during that flight.