Ellumax Leasing EPIC LT N653SB

Summary

On 24 April 2009 at about 23:45 local time, a Ellumax Leasing EPIC LT registered N653SB was involved in an accident near Astoria, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 April 2009 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Astoria, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

46.1922, -123.8356

Aircraft

Ellumax Leasing EPIC LT

Registration

N653SB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Astoria Regiona → Boeing Field

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09LA219

Nobody was injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.