Poor maintenance caused F-16 failure
By Anshel Pfeffer
The malfunction of an Israel Air Force F-16I fighter aircraft that necessitated an emergency landing On September 3 was apparently caused by human error in the maintenance of the engine.
The pilot narrowly averted a crash by executing a rarely used manoeuvre to glide the plane to a landing. Shortly after take-off from the Ramon Air Force Base, on a routine training flight, the pilot of the jet - the IAF's most advanced model - discovered that he was unable to reduce the engine speed because it remained in after-burner mode after take-off.
Together with the squadron commander the pilot decided to shut down the engine and glide to a landing. The pilot and the navigator were uninjured.
Following the incident all F-16Is were grounded for 24 hours and IAF commander Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan ordered a probe.
The reason for the malfunction was quickly ascertained and the no-fly order was rescinded.
The probe revealed that a technician at the Ramon base had made a mistake in the course of normal maintenance of an engine part connected to the throttle. Supervision of the technicians may also have been faulty. The IDF Spokesman's Office said the investigation is continuing.
source:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1115747.html
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