# NTSB WPR25LA063: Amazon.Com Services MK30, N209PA, Pendleton, OR, December 16, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 16, 2024, 09:58 local (17:58 UTC) - Place: Pendleton, OR · On airport - Coordinates: 45.695096, -118.84336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6951&lon=-118.8434&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 199433 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199433/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199433 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA063 ## Probable cause An improper altitude indication from a recent software update, which resulted in a loss of engine power in flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Indicating/recording systems: automatic data](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023170): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Amazon.Com Services MK30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023170/cases.md?model=06102FK), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023170/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Amazon.Com Services MK30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=06102FK), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator of the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) reported that, during a test flight with a new software upgrade, the UAS completed the delivery mission and was transitioning to land, when all six motors suddenly stopped. The UAS fell to the ground and impacted the asphalt taxiway, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Examination of the UAS by the operator revealed that the vehicle erroneously determined it had touched down due to an incorrect altitude reading from a new software installation, which resulted in a loss of engine power. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the UAS that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N209PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N209PA), registered now, S/N 178650100G, built 2024 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC MK30 - Registry model: [Amazon.Com Services MK30](https://openairdocs.org/model/amazon-com-services-mk30) (registry code 06102FK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, unmanned - Serial number: 178650100G - Year built: 2024 - Airframe hours: 57.3 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric; AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric; AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric; AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric; AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric; AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG electric - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Amazon.Com Services LLC - Registered owner: Amazon.Com Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 20, 2024 - Airport: PDT, Eastern Oregon Rgnl At Pendleton - Equipment: Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 30, 2024; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 255 total, 250 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KPDT - METAR: KPDT 161753Z 32004KT 10SM BKN050 BKN065 OVC080 04/03 A2996 RMK AO2 RAE49 SLP149 P0000 60008 T00390033 10061 20039 53006 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20241216018719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241216018719A), Dec 16, 2024: Amazon.Com Services LLC MK30, Pendleton, OR, Substantial damage. On December 16, 2024, two MK30 UAS were operating under sac-ec and experimental authority at the Pendleton, Oregon flight test facility and were involved in… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199433. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18134149&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operator%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.