ACC releases E-4B accident report
ACC News Service
Release Date: 10/23/2002
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- Air Force investigators have determined that a design flaw caused an accident involving a high frequency antenna assembly failure on an E-4B aircraft May 13.
The E-4B, which serves as the National Airborne Operations Center for the president and secretary of defense, sustained approximately $5 million in damages. No one was injured in the accident.
According to an Air Combat Command accident investigation report released today, the mishap was caused by an unsupportable high frequency antenna design. Also, two other factors were considered contributing factors to the mishap -- unreported similar accidents in 1998 and 1999 and lack of a follow-up plan to assess the success of previously implemented solutions to the antenna failure problem.
A boom operator refueling the aircraft from a KC-135E observed the antenna lashing the rear portion of the fuselage. The crew returned immediately to Offutt AFB without further incident. The aircraft sustained extensive damage to the tail, crown skin panels and windows.
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