US Plane F-35 Crash in Alaska - Pilot Safe and Had 50 minute conference call to try and fix plane
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An Air Force F-35 pilot was on the phone midair with Lockheed Martin engineers for nearly an hour attempting to resolve a landing gear issue before ultimately having to eject from the jet, according to a newly released accident investigation report.
On Jan. 28, an F-35A Lightning II crashed during a scheduled training event at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, and was captured on video bursting into a massive fireball and showering debris on the airfield. The pilot received minor injuries and was transported to Bassett Army Community Hospital in Fairbanks, Military.com previously reported.
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Accident Investigation Board president Col. Michael Lewis identified the cause of the mishap as “hydraulic fluid contaminated by water that froze” in the nose landing gear and main landing gear struts, the report said. As a result of the frozen water, the landing gear struts weren’t fully extended, causing the jet's “Weight on Wheels” sensors to believe the aircraft was on the ground when it was airborne.
The pilot then “initiated a conference call with Lockheed Martin engineers,” and the aircraft “held for approximately 50 minutes while the team developed a plan of action,” the report noted.
Those on the call advised the pilot, who attempted two touch-and-go landings, to land the aircraft by centering the nose landing gear wheel.
“After the second touch-and-go, all valid Weight on Wheels (WoW) sensors indicated that the [aircraft] was on the ground, and the [F-35] transitioned to the ‘on ground’ flight control law,” the report said. “However, because the [jet] was actually airborne, it was uncontrollable.”
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Can't believe it's already been 8 months since this video. Thanks for the update! The initial press conference provided almost no details other than the pilot had declared an emergency while in the air.
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