# NTSB ATL05LA081: Paul E. Conner Rotor-EZ, N2992, St Elmo, AL, May 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 2005, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: St Elmo, AL - Coordinates: 30.504167, -88.278335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5042&lon=-88.2783&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61497/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA081 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power. The pilot failed to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel tank selector position - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During takeoff at 250 feet above the ground, the airplane lost engine power and collided with trees. Post-accident examination of the fuel tanks revealed no fuel in the right wing tank and approximately 6 to 8 gallons of fuel in the left wing tank. The fuel selector has three inlet ports (left, right, and both) and four positions (left, right, both, and off). The right fuel tank line was attached to the both port. The fuel selector was observed between the both and left position. The fuel selector was in a position that would restrict the fuel flow. With only fuel in the left tank and the fuel selector between the both and left position, the high pressure electric fuel pumps would only draw air from the right tank and no fuel. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 16, 2005. at 1545 central daylight time, a Homebuilt Experimental Built airplane, N2992, registered to and operated by the commercial pilot, collided with trees shortly after takeoff from runway 24, at the St. Elmo Airport, in St. Elmo, Alabama. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot received fatal injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damaged. The flight originated from the St. Elmo, Airport in St. Elmo, Alabama on May 16, 2005, at 1540. According to witnesses, during takeoff the engine did not seem to be developing full power. At about 250 feet above the ground the airplane banked left and the engine quite. The airplane's bank angle increased and exceeded 90-degrees. The airplane's nose dropped suddenly, the wings leveled and the nose came back to nearly level prior to the airplane colliding with trees in a wooded area. Witness, telephoned the 911 operator reported the accident, and proceeded to the scene to provide assistance. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of records on file with the Airmen Certification Branch, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, revealed that the pilot was issued a commercial pilots certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, airplane multiengine land, and instrument rating on May 27, 1986. In addition, the pilot was issued a repairman certificate with ratings for experimental aircraft builder on July 14, 1999. The pilot held a third class medical certificate issued on June 03, 2005 with no limitations. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Review of aircraft records on file with the e Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, revealed the amateur built experimental airplane was registered on November 17, 2004. METEORLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1656, the Mobile Regional Alabama weather reporting facility, located 13 statue miles north of the accident site, reported winds variable at 3 knots, visibility of 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 7000 feet, temperature 28 Celsius, dew-point 12 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Post-accident examination of the wreckage site revealed that the airplane rested approximately 1500 feet west of the St. Elmo Airport, in a wooded area. The direction of travel at impact was 040 degrees. Examination of the airframe revealed damage to the fuselage and empennage. The landing gear and the right and left wing also exhibited damage. Examination of the engine reveled that the engine was separated from the engine mounts. Post accident examination of the fuel tanks revealed that both fuel caps were secured and the tanks were not breached. No fuel was found in the right wing tank and the left wing tank contained approximately 6 to 8 gallons of automobile fuel. The fuel selector was observe selected between the both and left position. MEDICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION The toxicology examinations for the pilot were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The fuel selector has three inlet ports (left, right, and both) and four positions (left, right, both, and off). The right fuel tank line was attached to the both port. According to Antare, the manufacturer of the fuel selector, if the selector handle is allowed to rotate to the position between both and left, the fuel output line from the selector valve is connected to both the right and left fuel tank. With only fuel in the left tank the high pressure electric fuel pumps could draw air only from the right tank and no fuel. When the fuel selector lever was rotated by hand, the detents in the selector valve were very weak and almost unnoticeable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2992](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2992-2007-11-27), registration cancelled 2007-11-27, S/N 1, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Paul E. Conner Rotor-EZ - Registry model: [Conner Paul E ROTOR-EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/conner-paul-e-rotor-ez) (registry code 05618JA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 10 - Engines: Mazda 05618ja reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul H. Conner - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 2R5, St Elmo, AL - Destination: 2R5, St Elmo, AL - Airport: 2R5, St Elmo, runway 24, 3,997 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,000 total, 10 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: MOB, 13 nm away ## 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 20050516007809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050516007809A), May 16, 2005: ROTOREZ, St Elmo, AL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) The pilot was taking off to build hours in an experimental/home built aircraft that he built. Weather was not a factor in this accident. At 1545 CDT the… 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.