TBM 700/TBM 850
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 1900; Flight Crew Type 1100
Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
I would like to file this report for educational purposes as I do not believe anyone acted incorrectly in any manner. I was following an Airbus A320 to Rwy at LGB on a visual approach and I believe the Airbus may have also been on a visual approach. It appeared the Airbus was well in front of me and below me although I could only see his nav lights allowing little to gauge distance. The tower did report that I had matched the approach speed of the Airbus so I slowed 20 kts immediately. Everything seemed fine as I had contact with the runway end lights and made my way visually to the Rwy 30 threshold. Then at somewhere between 1;000 and 1;500 I experienced a 75 to 80 degree un-commanded right bank roll. I had entered the vortices of the Airbus and it was beyond anything I had ever experienced in my years of flying. I went full deflection left aileron followed by full power to avoid being rolled. I got the aircraft wings level and then experienced one more severe vertical wind shear event before returning to smooth flight. I request a left 360 for further spacing but was denied and given an option for Rwy 25L which worked out just as well. The lesson here is to be prepared for wake turbulence; monitoring following distance; altitude and flight path in comparison to the lead aircraft. Visually it appeared I had reasonable following distance and ample altitude above the big jet; however at dusk it is difficult to measure. If the lead aircraft is on a visual approach and not the glideslope or localizer you may have no other tools to avoid his flight path other than visual cues.
TBM 700 pilot reported encountering severe wake turbulence while on final approach to LGB airport in trail of an A320.