Page 90 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

Attrition
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Sheppard T-6A Texan II

crash report released

The wreckage of USAF T-6A 07-
3890 ‘EN’ following its crash
on open farmland northeast of
Sheppard AFB last May 1. USAF
H EADQUARTERS AIR cumulus cloud formations, but and slightly nose-down elevator. ranch land, 1 mile (1.5km) north
Education and Training
of Highway 70 near Temple,
They attempted to maintain
assessed the conditions as still
Command has released acceptable for training and the neutral flight controls from spin Oklahoma, 21 miles (34km)
its Accident Investigation Board aircraft continued until it entered entry until ejection, but there were northeast of Sheppard AFB at
(AIB) report into the loss of a the Sheppard 2 MOA. The deviations, most noticeably in the 1313hrs local time. The mishap
USAF T-6A last May 1, about instructor pilot accomplished the elevator. This slightly nose-down aircraft debris was contained
21 miles (34km) northeast of training profile once established control input aggravated the spin within a 270ft (82m) radius of the
Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas – in the MOA and supervised the condition and delayed recovery. point of impact. There was no
see Attrition, July 2019, p107. The Italian pilot’s performance of a The instructor initially attempted post-crash fire. There was no loss
report, made public on December G-awareness exercise, power-on to counteract the left roll with of civilian property and the aircraft
17, cites pilot error as the cause stalls, traffic pattern stalls, slow right rudder application. Once was destroyed on impact. The cost
of the mishap. It also reveals the flight, steep turns and instrument inverted, the crew tried to maintain of the aircraft is about US$5.7m.
identity of the Texan II as 07-3890 confidence manoeuvres. neutral controls. However, post- Both pilots ejected and sustained
‘EN’ from the 80th Flying Training Then, at approximately 1300hrs mishap analysis revealed the minor injuries after landing in
Wing’s 89th Flying Training local time, the aircraft penetrated rudder remained deflected to a field 5 miles (8km) north of
Squadron (FTS) at Sheppard. cumulus clouds below safe flying the right at varying degrees the aircraft’s point of impact.
The mishap crew included an airspeed in an unusual attitude until ejection, which delayed The AIB president found, by a
instructor pilot from the 97th (aircraft orientation in relation recovery. Furthermore, the trim preponderance of the evidence,
FTS in the rear seat, who was to the horizon). The mishap aid system, which automatically that the cause of the mishap
supervising an Italian Air Force instructor pilot (MIP) flew the applies nominal rudder input was pilot error resulting from
pilot, from the 89th FTS, during aircraft in an unrecognised, based on variables such as torque, fixation on environmental factors
training manoeuvres as part of unintentional nose-high altitude airspeed and pitch rate, gave that led to an aerodynamic stall
a transition sortie in the Pilot with decreasing and insufficient the rudder a minor propensity and then failure to follow the
Instructor Training Course. airspeed and high-power setting. to the right (pro-spin rudder) prescribed memorised critical-
Following a weather diversion In an attempt to regain airspeed, due to the low airspeed and action recovery checklist.
to Fort Worth Alliance Airport the MIP tried to lower the nose of high-power setting. The crew While commonly practised
(KAFW) the crew departed from the aircraft towards the horizon continued to attempt to recover during continuation training and
there at 1237hrs local time via before penetrating the weather. the aircraft until the pilot assessed in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot
the Fort Worth Alliance Stereo Next, the MIP attempted to roll it unrecoverable and commanded Instructor Training syllabus, out-
Route to the Sheppard 2 Military wings level while still in a nose- ejection at approximately 10,800ft of-control flight is only performed
Operating Area (MOA) to complete high attitude with insufficient (3,290m) above mean sea level. in airspace clear of clouds. Once in
their training mission and then airspeed and high-power setting. Post-ejection, the unmanned the clouds, the crew lost the ability
return to Sheppard. While setting As a result, the mishap aircraft aircraft transitioned out of the to recognise altitude, turn direction
up the transition sortie as part departed controlled flight in spin into a nose-dive reaching and rate of turn. This coupled
of the Pilot Instructor Training a power-on, inverted spin. approximately 90° nose-low with inverted flight contributed to
Course and en route to the After departing controlled flight, travelling at 309kts when it the crew’s failure to remedy the
MOA, the crew noticed building the crew applied neutral ailerons crashed into privately owned out-of-control flight condition.

88 // February 2020 #383 www.Key.Aero

06/01/2020 09:20:49
88-91 Attrition AFM Feb2020.indd 88 06/01/2020 09:20:49
88-91 Attrition AFM Feb2020.indd 88