F-15K Crash Probe Yields Few Answers
JUNE 10, 2006 03:34
by Sang-Ho Yun ([email protected])
Controversy is heating up on what caused the F-15K fighter to crash
during a night training mission off the shore of Pohang, Gyeongbuk
Province. The debated three main causes are the pilot error caused
by vertigo effect, technical defects in the aircraft or a blunder
in maintenance.
Although two days have passed since the accident, the black box
that contains on-flight records, which will provide key clues to
the cause of the crash, has not been recovered, raising forecasts
that the debate will only grow.
According to the Air Force, the late Lieutenant Colonel Kim
Sung-dae, who was onboard the crashed F-15K, left a radio message
in a calm voice right before the crash, Knock it off. It is
reported that the fighter jet descended into the sea after radioing
this message.
Pilots say that Knock it off is a term used by fighter pilots to
tell fellow pilots and the ground control tower that the current
mission is over and that the plane will pass on to the next
mission, or something abnormal occurred to interrupt the
training.
Considering that Lt. Col. Kim communicated in a calm voice, the Air
Force is putting slim weight on the possibility that the fighter,
under the vertigo effect, might crash into the sea in the process
of circling to the next mission. Nevertheless, doubts are being
raised because the chances of two veteran pilots being affected by
the vertigo effect are very slim.
As for mechanical defects of the aircraft, there could be an engine
malfunction or a pilot control system defect. In other words, the
fighter fitted with General Electric engines, the first time for
F-15 fighters, might have exploded in midair due to engine
problems.
However, Air Force Public Information Chief Tak Hyo-soo ruled out
that possibility, saying, At the time there were other pilots
flying around the fighter jet, and when looking at the flight
record of the crashed jet, a midair explosion is clearly far from
the truth.
On the other hand, experts point out that if the aircraft turns too
suddenly due to pilot system error, the massive acceleration of
gravity can leave the pilot unconscious and the plane can crash
with no one in control.
Some also point to the possibility of maintenance problems since
there is not a translated version of the immense F-15K maintenance
manual.
Whatever the cause of the accident, the Air Force is concerned
about the repercussions.
If the cause points to internal defects, the Air Force will be
reimbursed by the aircrafts manufacturer, but the F-X project
seeking to import 36 F-15Ks until 2008, including 14 within this
year, will receive a critical blow, and future plans to strengthen
air power will inevitably be setback.
On the other hand, if pilots vertigo effect is blamed as the cause
without retrieving the critical black box, which holds possible
answers to the accident, not only will the Air Force face
opposition from the family members of the deceased pilots, but
questions might be raised on the credibility of the investigation
results.
Source: DongA.com
Link:
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=050000&biid=2006061020798
