Miscellaneous/other: Evolution Revo, N889HT, fatal accident occurred on September 25, 2024, near Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH/KZPH), Zephyrhills, Florida

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195191/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195191

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N889HT

• Location: Zephyrhills, Florida 
• Accident Number: ERA24FA395 
• Date & Time: September 25, 2024, 07:10 Local 
• Registration: N889HT 
• Aircraft: EVOLUTION AIRCRAFT INC REVO 
• Aircraft Damage: Destroyed 
• Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other 
• Injuries: 2 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional 

On September 25, 2024, about 0710 eastern daylight time, an Evolution Aircraft Inc. Revo weight-shift-control aircraft, N889HT, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Zephyrhills, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot were fatally injured. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The accident occurred during an instructional flight in a weight-shift-control aircraft. A witness reported hearing a popping sound and then saw the aircraft descending in a nose-down attitude with what he thought were flames coming from the aircraft. The aircraft continued to descend and impacted on the terrain. An airport security video captured the aircraft in a nosedown attitude with the wings folded back as it descended. The video showed that in the early morning, low light conditions, the aircraft’s position lights were on. This was likely what the witness thought was flames coming from the aircraft. Postaccident examination of the wreckage confirmed that there was no evidence of an inflight fire; however, a postimpact fire consumed most of the wreckage.

The examination also found that the flight control cables were all connected to their respective connections. The haul back cable was found disconnected at the “J” hook, and the “J” hook was otherwise intact. The haul back cable allowed the wings to be folded for transport and storage of the aircraft. An inflight disconnection would have allowed the wings to fold back during flight. Based on this information, it is likely that the flight instructor did not secure the end of the haul back cable into the “J” hook prior to departing and the haul back cable detached during flight, which allowed the wings to fold up.

- Probable Cause: The flight instructor’s failure to ensure the haul back cable was securely connected to the “J” hook prior to departing on the accident flight, which resulted in the cable becoming disconnected and the wings folding up during flight.

Cabin safety event: Eurocopter EC 130T2 (ACH130 Aston Martin), N254DM, acicdent occurred on May 6, 2023, near Carta Valley, Texas

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/122569/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=122569

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N254DM

• Location: Carta Valley, Texas
• Accident Number: CEN23LA178
• Date & Time: May 6, 2023, 16:00 Local
• Registration: N254DM
• Aircraft: Airbus Helicopters EC130
• Aircraft Damage: None
• Defining Event: Cabin safety event
• Injuries: 1 Serious, 3 None
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Aerial observation

On May 6, 2023, about 1605 central daylight time, an Airbus Helicopters EC-130T2 helicopter, N254DM, sustained no damage when it was involved in an accident near Carta Valley, Texas. The pilot and two passengers sustained no injuries and one passenger sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight.

The helicopter departed for a low-level flight to perform aerial hunting of wild pigs on a remote ranch. During the flight, several herds of wild pigs were located and were engaged by the two rear-seat passengers. Shortly after, the pilot brought the helicopter to an out-of-ground effect hover, about 50 ft above ground level (agl), and assessed that the helicopter needed to be refueled. The helicopter was slowly moving forward during the hover when the left rear-seat passenger observed, from the “corner of his eye” as he was turning his head, the right rear-seat passenger depart the helicopter. Just before departing the helicopter, the right rear-seat passenger was facing forward. He then turned his body about 90° to the right facing out of the helicopter, he stepped on the pedestal mounted on the right skid, stood up, and then took a step forward.

The left rear-seat passenger notified the pilot about what he observed, and the pilot landed the helicopter. The injured passenger was unconscious with serious injuries. The injured passenger was loaded onto the helicopter, both cabin doors were closed, and the helicopter departed. The passenger was transported for medical treatment. The helicopter was not damaged.

The passenger did not provide a statement to the NTSB.

The helicopter owner reported that while in the out-of-ground effect hover, the passenger may have thought the helicopter was near the ground when he decided to depart the helicopter. The helicopter owner also reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Postaccident examination of the right rear passenger seat and restraint system did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident download of the accident flight engine data showed normal engine performance.

Toxicological evidence indicates that the injured passenger had consumed alcohol before the accident. Hospital testing measured a serum ethanol level of 0.067 g/dL about 2.6 hours after the accident. During the flight, the injured passenger was quiet, did not do or say anything abnormal, and did not appear to have been intoxicated. Based on this evidence, the injured passenger was likely experiencing impairing ethanol effects at the time of the accident. Such effects likely included worsened perception, judgment, and/or coordination that increased the likelihood of an accident. Thus, the injured passenger’s alcohol impairment likely contributed to his improper judgment to release his restraint system and depart the helicopter while in a hover.

- Probable Cause: The right rear-seat passenger’s improper judgement to release his restraint system and depart the helicopter while in a hover, which resulted in him sustaining serious injuries. Contributing to the accident was his impairment from effects of alcohol consumption.

Loss of control in flight: Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee D, N926MK, accident occurred on October 27, 2024, at Fairmont Municipal Airport-Frankman Field (4G7), Fairmont, West Virginia

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195387/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195387

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N926MK

• Location: Fairmont, West Virginia 
• Accident Number: ERA25LA025 
• Date & Time: October 27, 2024, 11:30 Local 
• Registration: N926MK 
• Aircraft: Piper PA28 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Loss of control in flight 
• Injuries: 1 None
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

On October 27, 2024, at 1130 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N926MK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fairmont, West Virginia. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.

The student pilot reported that after a successful first landing, he attempted a second landing but initiated a go-around due to the airplane being high on final approach. On the second attempt, he noted that the wind velocity had increased. During the landing, the airplane bounced and was pushed to the left. Despite corrective inputs, the airplane veered off the runway, impacted a guardrail, and a postimpact fire ensued. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

- Probable Cause: The student pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent loss of directional control.

Unknown or undetermined: Magni M24 Orion Plus, N1777W, accident occurred on May 30, 2023, near Dauphine Island, Alabama

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192273/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192273

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=1777W

• Location: Dauphin Island, Alabama 
• Accident Number: ERA23LA251 
• Date & Time: May 30, 2023, 11:01 Local 
• Registration: N1777W 
• Aircraft: MAGNIFLIGHT LLC M24 ORION PLUS 
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial 
• Defining Event: Unknown or undetermined 
• Injuries: 2 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On May 30, 2023, at 1101 central daylight time, a Magniflight M24 Orion Plus gyroplane, N1777W, was involved in an accident near Dauphine Island, Alabama. The pilot and the passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot of the gyroplane reported several lane warnings during the flight, which indicated possible disruptions to the fuel/ignition timing by the engine’s digital engine control unit (ECU). The ECU was comprised of two modules that worked in sync with each other to monitor numerous sensors throughout the engine. Although the pilot tried to reset the lane warning several times, the engine lost partial power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and made a forced landing in tall grass, during which the gyroplane rolled over and substantial damage.

A postaccident examination and test run of the engine revealed no obvious mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have contributed to the accident. Data downloaded from the engine’s digital ECU and an electronic flight information system (EFIS) revealed that, at the time of the partial loss of engine power, the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) reading for the No. 4 cylinder dropped to levels indicating that combustion was no longer occurring within the cylinder. The loss of combustion in the No. 4 cylinder likely resulted in the partial power loss of the engine.

The cause of the loss of combustion in the No. 4 cylinder could not be determined with the available engine ECU and EFIS data. Along with the engine data, the fact that the engine ran after the accident indicated there was likely an intermittent issue with the fuel/air delivery or the ignition to the No. 4 cylinder that could not be duplicated.

- Probable Cause: A partial loss of engine power due to a loss of combustion in the No. 4 cylinder for undetermined reasons.

Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT): Piper PA-22-160 Tri-Pacer, N4NW, accident occurred on August 29, 2025, near Aleknagik, Alaska

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N4NW

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195025/pdf

• Location: Aleknagik, Alaska
• Accident Number: ANC24LA083
• Date & Time: August 29, 2024, 19:00 Loca
•  Registration: N4NW
• Aircraft: Piper PA22
• Aircraft Damage: Substantial
• Defining Event: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
• Injuries: 3 None
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

According to the pilot, while conducting a low altitude pass over an off-airport site with a 5 to 7 mph tailwind in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, the landing gear contacted a patch of alder brush. The airplane subsequently came to rest in an area of tall brush, both wings, lift struts and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude.

Zenith CH 750 Cruzer, N864AJ, accident occurred on May 18, 2025, near Greenville, South Carolina

• Location: Greenville, SC
• Accident Number: ERA25LA214 
• Date & Time: May 18, 2025, 14:16 Local 
• Registration: N864AJ 
• Aircraft: Jernigan Zenith 750 
• Injuries: 1 None 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

 

On May 18, 2025, about 1416 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Zenith 750, N864AJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Greenville, South Carolina. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot stated that the airplane’s condition inspection had just been completed. He subsequently removed the engine cowling and performed two separate 5-minute engine runs, and a third engine run that was 7 minutes in duration. After each engine-run the pilot secured the engine and then checked from the firewall forward to confirm that there was no engine oil leakage. He then performed a complete preflight inspection of the airplane noting the oil capacity was 3.5 quarts (normal). After departure the pilot proceeded in a westerly direction and during cruise flight at 2,200 ft mean sea level (1,200 ft above ground level) with the engine operating about 2,400 rpm, he heard an aural annunciation of “oil pressure” twice from the onboard avionics. The pilot increased engine speed about 100 rpm and noted that the oil pressure reading on the multi-function display was 28 psi. The engine was developing partial power, and the pilot pitched the airplane for best glide airspeed; however, he was too far to reach his intended airport. The pilot maneuvered toward a forced landing area in a residential development; however, on final approach he realized the terrain was not smooth. When he flared for landing, the main landing gear impacted the top of a very steep incline and separated. The airplane then rolled between 10 and 15 ft and nosed over.

The airplane was recovered for further examination.

North American T-28B Trojan, N28DE, accident occurred on May 17, 2025, near Yuba County Airport (MYV/KMYV), Marysville, California

• Location: Olivehurst, CA 
• Accident Number: WPR25LA159 
• Date & Time: May 17, 2025, 10:22 Local 
• Registration: N28DE 
• Aircraft: North American T-28B 
• Injuries: 2 Serious 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On May 17, 2025, at 1022 Pacific daylight time, a North American T-28B, N28DE, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Marysville, California. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

According to the operator, the airplane departed Yuba County Airport (MYV), Olivehurst, California, to perform a flyover at MYV for their organization. During the flight the engine began surging. The pilot started to return to the airport before electing to land on a nearby dirt road. During landing a wing struck a berm and spun the airplane around, substantially damaging the wings and fuselage.

The wreckage was retained for examination.