Amateur-built Rotor-EZ accident near St Elmo, Alabama, May 16, 2005
On May 16, 2005 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Rotor-EZ, registered N2992, was substantially damaged in an accident near St Elmo, Alabama (St Elmo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2005 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- St Elmo, Alabama · St Elmo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Rotor-EZ
- Registration
- N2992 · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mazda 05618ja (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2R5 St Elmo AL at 8:47 pm
- Destination: 2R5 St Elmo AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,997 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from MOB, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.