Fighter Jet News

F-16 Fighting Falcon News

F-16 engine defect not as widespread as thought

July 18, 2003 (by Lieven Dewitte) - An engine problem that grounded most the F-16 jet fighters at Luke Air Force Base two weeks ago is being repaired by crews working around the clock, and the base says it will graduate all its fighter pilots on time.
Luke spokesman Lt. Col. Laurent Fox said jet mechanics and maintainers have been working in three shifts, day and night, and are the biggest reason that the jets are back up in the air flying.

A more in-depth investigation after the jets were grounded June 30 revealed that the problem was not as widespread as originally thought and a majority of F-16s at Luke are flying again.

They are currently back up to flying a full schedule.

A spokeswoman for Pratt & Whitney said that while the company is in the middle of an investigation, preliminary findings point to a manufacturing defect in a low-pressure turbine blade that drives the engine fan.

She said the problem part quit working, and this is the first time this particular part has caused a jet to crash.

They identified the root cause, and isolated by serial number the parts that are affected.

The problem was discovered after a Luke F-16 crash on June 10, about 15 miles south of Gila Bend. Instructor pilot Capt. David O'Malley with the 310th Fighter Squadron safely ejected, and it was determined he was not at fault.

In its investigation of the crash, the safety investigation board found a problem with the engine part and the F-16s were grounded for safety concerns.

A second F-16 crash, three days after O'Malley crashed, was not connected to the faulty engine part, the base says.