Page 7 - Desert Lightning News Nellis AFB | Creech AFB – May 2023

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USAF releases abbreviated accident report for MQ-9A crash in Nevada
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delegATiON, from Page 4 _____________
The visit bolstered NATO’s Eastern Flank by preparing Poland for future RPA operations with the knowledge they’ve obtained during this visit. As a crucial strategic U.S. Ally in Central Europe, exchanging information to expand RPA airpower strengthens regional security.
“This is a very unique base,” said Polish Brig. Gen. Dariusz Mendrala, NATO Security Invest- ment Program director. “This visit has been very informative for NATO’s mission in safeguarding our Allies’ freedom and security.”
The visit was hosted in support of the En- hanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, enacted on August 15, 2020. Within EDCA, two new programs were implemented — Poland Provided Infrastructure and Poland Provided Logistics Support.
The PPI program includes 113 military con- struction projects at 11 Agreed Facilities Areas across Poland to support interoperability and in- crease the capability of forces operating in Poland.
Under the PPLS program, Poland provides lo- gistical support for U.S. forces at AFA locations. This support includes facility maintenance, fuel cost sharing, food service, lodging, storage, fire and emergency services, medical response, and telecommunications infrastructure services.
“Poland’s commitment to the U.S. forces and RPA airpower expansion in Poland strengthens the partnership and cooperation between the U.S. and Poland, yielding security benefits for both nations in the years to come,” said Schmidt.
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On April 21, 2023, the U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command released an Abbreviated Accident Investigation Board Report follow- ing an MQ-9A Reaper crash that occurred Sept. 28, 2022 at Creech Air Force Base, Nev.
Both the aircraft and crew were assigned to the 432nd Wing’s 489th Attack Squadron at Creech. The mishap resulted in no damage to civilian property, nor injuries or fatalities. The aircraft, valued at approximately $16.6 million, was destroyed.
A Launch and Recovery Ele- ment, comprised of the pilot, sensor operator and an instructor pilot and instructor sensor operator, was conducting training when the accident happened.
While on approach for a touch- and-go landing, the pilot was using the Multi-Spectral Targeting Sys- tem for primary visual cues. When nearing the ground, the MTS
slewed rapidly downward from its original forward-looking position. The pilot initiated a go-around and increased the pitch angle, but became disoriented from the un- commanded MTS movement and incorrectly positioned the throttle to flight idle.
While the aircraft began to climb, the airspeed and positive climb rate bled off due to lack of thrust. Although the instructor pilot quickly identified the idle thrust and called out for a correc- tion to throttle, the MQ-9A had already entered a stall and began to descend, resulting in the aircraft impacting the runway. Due to the force of impact, the right main landing gear failed, and the aircraft entered a decelerating spin on the runway. When the aircraft came to a stop, it caught fire and was destroyed.
The AAIB president found the mishap occurred due to the pilot
reducing the throttle to idle, in- stead of pushing forward to full throttle, while executing a low- altitude go-around procedure.
Furthermore, the AAIB presi- dent determined the following factors substantially contributed to the mishap: the MTS failure at a critical phase of flight caused disorientation and distraction for all four crewmembers; the pilot did not reference the sensor operator’s heads-up display to regain visual references and confirm the air- craft was not flying in an unusual attitude; and the instructor pilot did not prioritize ensuring go- around procedures were properly performed over correcting video display to the pilot.
The AAIB report can be viewed here [https://www.afjag.af.mil/Por- tals/77/AIB-Reports/2022/28%20 Sept%2022%20ACC%20MQ-9%20 432%20WG%20Creech%20 AAIB%20Report.pdf]
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