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Turbine blade failure caused June F-16C crash
November 1, 2003 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
Air Force officials determined a manufacturing defect of a turbine blade caused an F-16C block 42 to crash on June 10 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
In the recently released accident-investigation report, the board determined the crash was caused by a manufacturing defect in Blade 1 of the 4th stage low-pressure turbine of the engine.
The blade failure caused a chain of events that destroyed the engine, according to the report.
Capt. David O'Malley, the pilot of the mishap aircraft assigned to the 310th Fighter Squadron, was the lead of a two-ship formation flying a close-air support training mission. The mission included simulated bombing attacks and low-angle strafing on the Gila Bend Auxiliary Airfield. He was performing low-altitude bomb training when he felt a vibration underneath him, heard a "bang" and then a grinding noise coming from the engine.
In response, he made the aircraft (#88-0451) climb and attempted two engine restarts.
When his wingman reported the aircraft had fire coming out the aft end, O?Malley ejected. The F-16, which was assigned to the 310th Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, crashed on Bureau of Land Management property about 12 nautical miles northwest of Gila Bend.
A Native Air Ambulance helicopter crew flew O?Malley back to base. There he was examined by a flight surgeon and released.
The blade failure caused a chain of events that destroyed the engine, according to the report.
Capt. David O'Malley, the pilot of the mishap aircraft assigned to the 310th Fighter Squadron, was the lead of a two-ship formation flying a close-air support training mission. The mission included simulated bombing attacks and low-angle strafing on the Gila Bend Auxiliary Airfield. He was performing low-altitude bomb training when he felt a vibration underneath him, heard a "bang" and then a grinding noise coming from the engine.
In response, he made the aircraft (#88-0451) climb and attempted two engine restarts.
When his wingman reported the aircraft had fire coming out the aft end, O?Malley ejected. The F-16, which was assigned to the 310th Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, crashed on Bureau of Land Management property about 12 nautical miles northwest of Gila Bend.
A Native Air Ambulance helicopter crew flew O?Malley back to base. There he was examined by a flight surgeon and released.
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