Misplaced pin caused expensive damage to F-22

[J-10]

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1639678.php
March 23, 2006
Misplaced pin caused expensive damage to F-22
Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — A federal investigation found that a misplaced 5-inch metal pin caused $6.7 million in damage to the engine of an F-22 fighter jet at Hill Air Force Base.

Air Force officials said it was the most expensive mishap since the fighters were first deployed to operational squadrons last year.

A 22-page investigative summary released this week concludes the engine was damaged when a mechanic failed to remove a safety pin from the plane’s forward landing gear. The accident occurred Oct. 20, when the Air Force’s first Raptor squadron, based in Langley, Va., was at Hill for training.

Just after the pilot, Maj. Evan Dertien, had started the Raptor’s twin 35,000-pound-thrust engines, Senior Airman Arthur Blosser noticed the pin was still installed. Blosser signaled for Dertien to shut down the left engine so that he could approach and remove it.

As Blosser removed the pin, the streamer attached to it was caught in the jet intake of the Raptor’s right engine, ripping the pin from his hand and sucking it into the engine.

Dertien, according to the report, “heard a crunch and a winding down sound” as witnesses outside the aircraft “saw sparks coming from the engine.”

Investigators concluded that, while Air Force guides correctly instructed Raptor mechanics to install the landing gear pins before performing maintenance, there were no similar step-by-step instructions to ensure mechanics take the pins out prior to clearing the aircraft for use.

[Sneeker]

OOOOPS. Thats an expensive f-up. Definatly broke my record.

[Kersh]

Take it out of his check.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

...from the log of Senior Airman Arthur Blosser;

"Note to self, ask for shorter streamers on pins. Also, don't forget to sign payroll deduction form..."

[usa320]

jesus...how could they miss the remove before flight tag...

[Paracaidista]

I got an idea for the perfect SAM warhead.... :lol:

[nullterm]

Wow, talk about a bad day on the job.

[Stolly]

"Senior Airman Arthur Blosser "

Now answers to

"Junior sh*t burner 3rd class Blosser"

[Creeper]

If I remember, gear pins stay in during engine start , flt controls are run etc,, The 3 pins and chocks and ARE PULLED just prior to taxi , the last event being the external comm. line being pulled,,,
Big Blues statement makes no sense whatso ever,,,
Investigators concluded that, while Air Force guides correctly instructed Raptor mechanics to install the landing gear pins before performing maintenance, there were no similar step-by-step instructions to ensure mechanics take the pins out prior to clearing the aircraft for use.
Makes me believe that the c/c can not approach the nose gear while engs are at idle,,,

Am I missing something or is Big Blue getting stupid and lazy ?

[toad]

It seems a stretch to conclude that the whole airforce just woke up Oct 20 and was suddenly and inexplicably 'lazy and stupid' as you put it.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7094/nose14ph.jpg

The airforce fellas at f16.net made some comments that on the F-15 the crew chief starts the right engine then unpins the gear. If this ground crewman had formerly worked around f-15's he may have thought shutting down one engine to pull the missed pin was ok. From what the posters there said the accepted practice on the newer F-22 is to pull the pins before start up. Apparently the TO did not (in oct) clearly spell it out. Seemed reasonable when posted.

In the navy each aircraft is treated differently because of the position of intakes and power etc...I have seen plane captains pull before/during/after startup. But it depends on AC type. I can see this happening in the initial weeks of a new aircrafts introduction to service.

It certainly is not the first time ground crew fod'd an engine.

http://www.f-16.net/news_article1711.html

It just did not cause any stir on F-16.net, and I myself wouldn't think that one ground crew man failing to control a safety pin suddenly implies the whole Airforce is lazy.

...but hey, thats just me.

[Creeper]

Toad: No worries, I did not imply that the WHOLE A.F. is lazy. Secondly,this is not the first time a 'new' a/c arrived on the flt line w/o a few boo boos happening.

Lastly, my statement grew out of disbelief of the incident, Hell, I used to grab the pin and streamer then clinch it as one into the palm of my hand as i crawled out, to prevent a FODed eng.

thank you for the pic as well and your comments !

Cheers !

[Creeper]

On the other hand, IMHO: I do not accept that the 'TO' gets the blame on this. I would like to read a follow up article of this incident which points to a failure in the Field Training Detachment and Supervision of a E-4 [5-lvl?].

In this day and time of military aviation, a failure such as this is inheritable designed to be non-existent. Give this time and follow up later.

But then, I saw this a/c and its competitor when it was behind a gate and a wire and a solid fence.
p-)

[Telnyashka]

This is my biggest fear with the development of a plane such as the F/A-22, where a small 5 inch pin can cause so much damage to a plane. I would rather much look for the rugged and more simple design that can be built easily, then an overhyped flying computer with wings....Or atleast even better, a compromise between the two.

[PeterG]

This is my biggest fear with the development of a plane such as the F/A-22, where a small 5 inch pin can cause so much damage to a plane. I would rather much look for the rugged and more simple design that can be built easily, then an overhyped flying computer with wings....Or atleast even better, a compromise between the two.

This had nothing to do with overly advanced avionics or computers. But it could perhaps be avoided with the mesh cover on the engine intakes used on some russian fighters to prevent FOD damage to taxiing aircraft. Sounds very simple, cheap and effective.

[nullterm]

How much do engines cost for fighters on average? I know the pricetag is most are $30 to $40 million, but never thought about how much of that is the engine.

[Creeper]

How much do engines cost for fighters on average? I know the pricetag is most are $30 to $40 million, but never thought about how much of that is the engine.

It is relative, The cost of a well engineered training program for Crew Chiefs versus the 'overall' cost of R - square an -22 engine.

It depends where Big Blue wants 2 spend their cash !

[Creeper]

This had nothing to do with overly advanced avionics or computers. But it could perhaps be avoided with the mesh cover on the engine intakes used on some russian fighters to prevent FOD damage to taxiing aircraft. Sounds very simple, cheap and effective.

lastly, the KISS approach is non-existant.