Ellumax Leasing LLC EPIC LT accident near Astoria, Oregon, April 24, 2009
On April 24, 2009 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Ellumax Leasing LLC EPIC LT, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N653SB, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Astoria, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power during climb to cruise due to the failure of the engine's fuel control unit. Contributing to the accident was the incorrect machining of an internal component of the fuel control unit, and the failure of the assembling technician to correctly inspect the unit's assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2009 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Astoria, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ellumax Leasing LLC EPIC LT, amateur-built
- Registration
- N653SB · no longer on the register · serial 025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a climb to en route cruise, the airplane's engine lost almost all power, and the pilot had to ditch in a river because he was unable to glide back to the departure airport. The power loss was due to a minimum fuel flow command from the fuel control unit as a result of the seizure of the fuel control flyweights. The seizure of the flyweights was due to their contamination with residue from a failed fuel control tachometer drive bearing. The bearing failed due to its preload spacer being machined incorrectly, and due to the failure of the assembling technician to detect the anomaly at the time the fuel control was assembled.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel controlling system › Malfunction
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Fabrication › Other/unknown
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Post maintenance inspection › Maintenance personnel
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,460 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 25, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 72 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 10, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-67A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAST Astoria Regiona OR at 11:35 pm
- Destination: KBFI Boeing Field WA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.