A US Air Force F-35 pilot spent at least 50 minutes on an airborne conference call with Lockheed Martin engineers trying to resolve a malfunction before ejecting as the jet crashed in Alaska earlier this year, CNN reported, citing an accident investigation.
The crash occurred on January 28 at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks. According to the report obtained by CNN, ice in the hydraulic lines of the nose and main landing gears prevented proper deployment, ultimately causing the fighter to plunge. After takeoff, the pilot failed to retract the landing gear. When lowering it again, the nose gear locked at a left angle.
The pilot attempted two “touch and go” landings in an effort to straighten the jammed gear, but both failed, freezing the hydraulic system. The jet’s sensors then incorrectly indicated it was on the ground, rendering the aircraft “uncontrollable” and forcing the pilot to eject. Video from the incident showed the jet plunging vertically before exploding in a fireball, while the pilot parachuted safely.
An inspection found that about one-third of the hydraulic fluid in both the nose and right main landing gears contained water, where none should have been present. Nine days later, a similar “hydraulic icing” problem occurred at the same base, though that aircraft landed safely.
The Air Force’s Accident Investigation Board concluded that “crew decision-making including those on the in-flight conference call,” inadequate oversight of the hazardous material programme, and improper servicing procedures for hydraulic fluid all contributed to the crash, CNN said.
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