Paul E Conner ROTOR-EZ N2992

Summary

On 16 May 2005 at about 20:45 local time, a Paul E Conner ROTOR-EZ registered N2992 was involved in an accident near St Elmo, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 May 2005 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

St Elmo, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

St Elmo (2R5)

Coordinates

30.5042, -88.2783

Aircraft

Paul E Conner ROTOR-EZ

Registration

N2992

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St Elmo → St Elmo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05LA081

1 person died.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.