# Accident 20090424053829A: Ellumax Lea EPIC LT, Astoria, OR, April 24, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 24, 2009, 16:40 local time
- Place: Astoria, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.1922° N, 123.8356° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1922&lon=-123.8356&mi=10
- Aircraft: N653SB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N653SB-2010-03-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ellumax Leasing EPIC LT (registry code 05627PV, https://openairdocs.org/model/ellumax-leasing-epic-lt) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ELLUMAX LEA EPIC LT
- Reported engine: PRATT AND WHITNEY PT-6A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,550 total, 70 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA219) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090424053829A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT DEPARTED ASTORIA WITH APPROXIMATELY 1200 POUNDS OF FUEL.  HE MADE A MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE CLIMB (2500 FPM) TO 8,000 FEET WHERE HE WAS LEVELING.  HE FELT A SURGE IN THE AIRCRAFT, AND GLANCED AT HIS ENGINE INSTRUMENTS, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  THE PILOT REVERSED COURSE TO RETURN TO THE ASTORIA AIRPORT.  HE TRIED TO DO AN AIR RESTART (DATA SHOWS THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING UNTIL IMPACT) BUT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN POWER.  THE PILOT DID NOT THINK HE COULD MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT SO HE TURNED UPRIVER TO LAND CLOSE TO AND IN SIGHT OF THE CITY OF ASTORIA.  THE DITCHING WAS SUCCESSFUL AND THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE SOON RESCUED BY A BOAT, FROM THE BRIEFLY FLOATING AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT DID NOT ATTEMPT TO FEATHER THE PROP.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR09LA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA219), Apr 24, 2009: Ellumax Leasing Epic LT (N653SB), Astoria, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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