FAA Investigates Former Olympian

Administration looking into possible staging of an aircraft accident for social media.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, January 21, 2022 at 02:56 PM ET

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Trevor Jacob jumps out of his Taylorcraft BL-65. [YouTube Screengrab]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is investigating YouTuber Trevor Jacob for allegedly staging an aircraft accident in November 2021, where he bailed out of his plane over a national forest claiming engine failure.
Numerous suspicious details from his widely viewed YouTube video, such as strategically placed cameras, lack of footage of key controls, an apparent fire extinguisher strapped to his leg, and a visible emergency landing spot, suggest the incident was faked.
If the accident is determined to be intentional, Jacob could face significant penalties for violating aviation regulations, including careless operation of aircraft and potentially flying an unairworthy plane.

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The FAA is investigating YouTuber Trevor Jacob for allegedly staging an aircraft accident in November. Jacob—the former Olympic snowboarder turned YouTuber—was flying solo over the Los Padres National Forest north of Los Angeles on November 24, when the engine on the Taylorcraft BL-65 allegedly quit. Jacob, a private pilot, was wearing a sport parachute and bailed out of the aircraft.

The pilotless airplane crashed as Jacob floated to earth.