F-16 crashes off coast of South Carolina

[Purplehaze]

700 knots is like 805 mph. And ouch.

Sounds like the old GE was working if she was still moving this fast!!!

[cutlassracer]

Or the old GE's T-wheel shelled. That can make things real interesting, real quick, especially at that speed.

[parrothead]

Sorry for sounding ignorant, but what's a "T-wheel" ?

[swanee]

Compound fractures... ouch.

[Guysmiley]

Turbine wheel?

[parrothead]

Turbine wheel?

Thanks !

I just hope he recovers to fly another day .

[DogF16]

This latest incident sounds a lot like #<a href="/f-16_fighting_falcon_airframe-3187.html">90-0815</a> from 6 July 2001, also from Shaw AFB. In 2001, however, the pilot, Captain Mitch "Toro" Bulmann, unfortunately and tragically, did not survive:

October 5, 2001 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Air Force investigators have determined that gravity-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) led to the July 6 crash of an F-16CJ off the coast of South Carolina.

The pilot, Capt. Mitchell A Bulmann, sustained fatal injuries while ejecting from the aircraft. The aircraft (#90-0815) was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and was on a training mission at the time of the accident. Bulmann's aircraft was the second F-16 in a formation of four F-16s.

According to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Report released today, there is clear and convincing evidence that the pilot suffered from G-LOC, resulting in the aircraft being put into unrecoverable flight. Although Bulmann regained consciousness long enough to eject, his aircraft was at a dangerous airspeed and attitude for ejection, resulting in fatal injuries. The aircraft hit the ocean off the coast of Charleston, S.C., and was destroyed.

The accident occurred during a sequence of basic flight maneuvers. Historical experience with G-LOC incidents indicates that pilots suffering from it are incapacitated for an average of 24 seconds. During that time, the victim may be unresponsive to external inputs.

Source: F-16.net

[Ex-Chief]

With another Viper down in Arizona, I wouldn't be surprised to see some major downtime. Just so CC's and pilots can go over training and catch their breathe.

[elp]

Update:

Flight data recorder found in F-16 crash

The flight data recorder, which was recovered Thursday, is on its way to the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico

Source: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/my ... 343619.htm

[Lieven]

Another update:

Efforts to recover F-16 wreckage end

Investigators Wednesday wrapped up efforts to recover wreckage of an F-16 from Shaw Air Force Base that slammed into the Atlantic Ocean east of Charleston.

Divers recovered the ejection seat equipped with a second flight recorder and classified gear aboard the fighter, Shaw spokesman Lt. Bryan Cox said.

Earlier, divers had found the flight data recorder and videotaped the crash scene — information investigators will need to determine what caused the crash, Cox added.

Source: www.thestate.com

The rest of the wreckage apparently will be left behind in a watery grave 84 feet below the ocean surface.

[parrothead]

I wonder what you'd need to do to get salvage rights - I can think of a few parts like the stick, throttle, and HUD that might make some money on ebay !

[Meathook]

I was hoping the "shellout" failures had been resolved by now, when I got out in 96, GE and Pratt were both working on another type of metal (so I heard at that time, a buddy of my worked for Pratt, told me about it) to replace the existing T-Wheels.

Sorry to hear that is still an issue, I guess that research never went full circle, shame.

[Arctus]

All,
Some have expressed concern over the two hours it took to pick this MP up. The search time might be explained by the probability that the pilot was unable to help himself be more visible. The LPU and raft are blue-black and if he sustained serious flail injuries then he probably wasn't in the raft to begin with. Broken arms and/or hands make it virtually impossible to get signaling devices out of the survival vest(if he was wearing one). With the ACESII system there are two rubberized canvas rucksacks in the kit containing survival items. Typically, the accessory kit aka Hit-and-Run kit contains the signaling devices. It is attached to the kit container dircetly underneath the pilot via a heavy-duty zipper. A pilot in the water would need functioning hands to get to it and open it.

[Lieven]

Here's an article via Mike Kopack: <a href="news_article1886.html">ACC releases details on Shaw F-16 crash</a>

and a more detailed report via 'Mushmouth': <a href="f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-5869.html">Shaw's F-16 (93-542) crash report released</a>

[TC]

D@mn, I came into this one late, but here's my

I wonder what you'd need to do to get salvage rights - I can think of a few parts like the stick, throttle, and HUD that might make some money on ebay

No salvage rights may be obtained. Even wreckage is still considered government property, and they will do whatever they can to attempt a recovery. It may sound silly, but even the smallest pieces of wreckage can bring new clues to light, in order to aid in the mishap investigation.

Someone asked about the life raft. It is an International Orange raft, which also contains blackout panels for combat.

Glad the pilot made it. Only 3 of the 5 who have attempted supersonic ejection have survived. This mishap was eerily similar to Jon Counsell's ejection from an F-15...G-LOC, followed by a Mach 1+ ejection. His injuries were similar to this pilot's injuries, but to a more severe degree.

ACES II: After the pilot, it is the most valuable part of the aircraft.