Forum: F-16 Procedures

f16cctul wrote:

...Once a weapons troop did this and was killed from injestion ...

It was in '82 or '83, His name was SSGT Mike (or Mark) Taylor, he had just switched to F-16's from F-4's, we were TDY to Luke from Hill (421st), it was his first time doing EOR and he was wearing a feild jacket with one of those removable big furry hoods on it. Story goes he was in the wrong place at the wrong time (EPU bleed air check), wasn't trained properly...just goes to show you....be careful around a running jet!!

One of my friends, "Mad Dog" Madsen, was the engine troop that had to "shoot the tube" after the paramedics got Taylor out.... He still doesn't like to talk about it.

(As a side note, that airplane later crashed and killed the pilot)

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Yea, I couldn't remember all the details aside from the ones you brought up. I was in the 4th at the time. That had to be difficult for Mad Doag. I remember him from a deployment I joined the 421st on. If I remember right that same jet went in later taking the crew with it.

I just went through the data on this site and I think 81-0730 was the tail number. I work at a major airline and we recently lost a contract maintenance mechanic on a gate to engine injestion. As you can imagine we are restressing intake hazards. The original question on this thread should be clearly answered, now.

OK, after reading the entire post - I will give my two cents worth. Back in the day (80's) it was common practice to pull the nose pin, do tire checks, etc. during launch and recovery. Times have changed dut to safety and the aformentioned incidents. By the way, there were other ingestions of personnel and equipment that have not been mentioned in this post.

With the changing times, we now pull the pins, stow the tapes, close access panels, etc. prior to engine start.

The hydraulic situation does not come into play with the nose pin removal. The incidents that happened with the gear collapsing in a South American (Netherland Antilles) and another location were caused by failure to follow technical data and having switiches/handles, etc. in the wrong position.

It is not safe to be in that near approximity of the inlet. I have done things that everyone considered safe back in the day (like servicing the nose strut on a cross country launch), but I would never do it or put any of my troops in harms way today! When I did it, I was a one striper with a Col, Major and Capt egging me on! they were probbaly used to the old F-4's that had just departed Torrejon and knew no better. Thank Goodness nothing happened!

Anyway, be safe - pull it before and replace it after shutdown.

Stu

I knew a guy nicked named Maddog Madsen, I wonder if it is the same person, if I remember right, we were either stationed at Nellis (80 - 82) together or maybe it was Luke 85 - 88 ...that names sounds awful familiar to me too (I forget the exact dates). Was he alright I hope....I wonder if it was the same guy, how many crew chiefs can there be with that handle?

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OK, after reading the entire post - I will give my two cents worth. Back in the day (80's) it was common practice to pull the nose pin, do tire checks, etc. during launch and recovery. Times have changed dut to safety and the aformentioned incidents.

You are 100% correct, at one time it was called for in the TO to install the NLG pin prior to shutdown. With that said that's why we have AFTO 22's and change TO's for safety and operational reasons. There really is no good reason to be in that area when the jet is running.

Purple

The pins are just to prevent gear collapse. without the pins installed you can accutally kick at the downlock and collapse the gear. granted you'd have to have one hell of a kick. also when refueling the f16 it's best to kick the nosewheel so the acft settles down on the nose strut. even in general aviation and commerical aircraft they have landing gear pins. Remember aircraft are machines and machines fail.

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I knew a guy nicked named Maddog Madsen, I wonder if it is the same person, if I remember right, we were either stationed at Nellis (80 - 82) together or maybe it was Luke 85 - 88

His first name was Don, and it was at Luke when I was there to 83-85. I played softball and flag football with him. Remember, he was the one who got his hand stuck between the stab and fuselage during a launch. I know you remeber that Meathook....

Racer181 wrote:

The pins are just to prevent gear collapse. without the pins installed you can accutally kick at the downlock and collapse the gear. granted you'd have to have one hell of a kick. also when refueling the f16 it's best to kick the nosewheel so the acft settles down on the nose strut. even in general aviation and commerical aircraft they have landing gear pins. Remember aircraft are machines and machines fail.

Racer if you can kick that hard I'm staying the hell away from you.....LOL

Shocked

Tim...I do remember that, WoW it is Don Madsen...yep, I'll never forget that one, how is he these days, his hand alright, I remember a few cuts, nothing serious, he lucked out for sure

Luckiest guy I know. I have'nt heard from him in years. Sure hope life has been fair to him as it has been to us. Thumb

I was told by a GD tech rep. at Edwards that when the first f-16 was made. It was made with no gear pins the air force had them put in to keep the gear from being retracted on the ground.

Forum: F-16 Procedures

Nose Landing Gear Ground Safety Pin regulations