Amazon Com Services MK30 N209PA

Summary

On 16 December 2024 at about 17:58 local time, a Amazon Com Services MK30 registered N209PA, operated by Amazon.com Services LLC, was involved in an accident near Pendleton, Oregon, United States. One person was 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

16 December 2024 at 17:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Pendleton, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Eastern Oregon Rgnl At Pendlet (PDT)

Coordinates

45.6951, -118.8434

Aircraft

Amazon Com Services MK30

Registration

N209PA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2024

Engines

6

Operator

Amazon.com Services LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA063

Nobody was injured.

An improper altitude indication from a recent software update, which resulted in a loss of engine power in flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.