B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Crash Video

On Fri, 6 Jun 2008 18:20:34 -0700 (PDT), Le Chaud Lapin
wrote in
:

On Jun 6, 7:58*pm, Larry Dighera wrote:
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/excl...Video_B2Spirit...
The crash on takeoff of a 509th Air Wing, Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber,
February 23 operating at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, was caused by
water in the aircraft's sensors, according to an Air Combat report
issued Thursday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZB-iziY2Bw&fmt=18

"..in the end, the Air Force's report on the incident suggests the
entire accident could have been avoided..."

"..prior to the flight the aircraft's own systems had prompted the
crew to perform an air-data calibration.."

Pilot error?



The $1.4 billion aircraft crashed just off the left side of the
runway and exploded. It was the first-ever B-2 crash and followed
75,000 hours of loss-free service. Link and Grieve both suffered
injuries during ejection, with Grieve suffering compression
fractures to his spine.

The report points to the inaccurate readings as contributing
factors, adding that ineffective communication of critical
information about a technique used to remove moisture from the
sensors also contributed. It's possible that all the pilots had to
do to avert the accident was turn on the pitot heat prior to
performing air data calibrations. But the suggested technique was
not part of checklist procedures.


It sounds more like an incomplete checklist.