Raptor Crash - Pilot's Fault?

Commission USAF accident investigation, dealing with disaster fighter F-22A Raptor, found that partial blame for the accident should be attributed to the pilot, Captain. Jeff Haney `these.


Raptors, probably the most technically advanced fighters of the world, suffer from serious problems of maintenance, mainly associated with the coatings of the airframe, but also from the sight nahełmowym or installing oxygen. For this reason, less than half of the supplied fighter retains its ability to fly operational

To the disaster took place November 16, 2010, during a routine, night flight school. As a result of collision with the ground, the plane was completely destroyed, the pilot was killed (see F-22 pilot is dead ).


The first stages of the investigation indicated that the cause of the accident was malfunctioning oxygen generator on-board On-Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS), which consequently led to hypoxia pilot and his loss of spatial orientation. Similar events that led to the start of a separate investigation, indicated that the installation of the Raptors oxygen penetrate the toxin.

In September this year, the American Air Force commission pointed out, however, that the catastrophe had other substrate. As a result of malfunction collecting air from the compressor section of jet engine, has excluded some of the aircraft, powered from this source, including the installation of oxygen.

The study, however, threw the blame on the pilot, saying that he did not react quickly respectively, among reserve by running the installation. Although from a fault to a collision with the earth had passed 39 seconds. What's more, the pilot focused on restoring efficiency in installation, not being able to control the aircraft. Introduced him to dive, to reduce the amount, but failed to align the flight in its final phase. There was no attempt to influence even on the flight path the pilot a fighter.

Pilots Raptors, however, indicate that the launch of a reserve oxygen system is extremely difficult. Recognize that the dropping of the blame on the pilot is an attempt to reduce the liability of the producer and user.