ASN Aircraft accident British Aerospace Nimrod R.1P XW666 Lossiemouth
ASN logo
 

Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Tuesday 16 May 1995
Type:Silhouette image of generic NIM model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
British Aerospace Nimrod R.1P
Operator:Royal Air Force - RAF
Registration: XW666
MSN: 8041
First flight:
Engines: 4 Rolls-Royce Spey 251
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:7,2 km (4.5 mls) NE off Lossiemouth (   United Kingdom)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Forres-Kinloss RAF Station (FSS/EGQK), United Kingdom
Destination airport:Forres-Kinloss RAF Station (FSS/EGQK), United Kingdom
Narrative:
The aircraft was one of three Nimrod reconnaissance variants and had just undergone a major servicing at the Nimrod Major Servicing Unit (NMSU), RAF Kinloss by RAF maintenance personnel.
Nimrod XW666 departed on a routine post-servicing airtest. After approximately 35 minutes of flight, following a test of the aircraft's anti-icing system, the No 4 engine fire warning illuminated. Whilst the crew were carrying out the fire drill, the No 3 engine fire warning also illuminated. A rear crew member confirmed that the aircraft was on fire and advised the captain that panels were falling away from the starboard wing. After two explosions, the captain feared for the structural integrity of the aircraft and decided to ditch before he lost control authority.
Without the aid of flaps, which failed to operate because of a fire/associated hydraulic failure, he completed a controlled ditching into the Moray Firth. The aircraft bounced twice onto the sea before settling. The fuselage broke into two and the aircraft subsequently sank.
Parts were salvaged and the cockpit section is now on display at AeroVenture South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster.

Probable Cause:

With the assistance of the Department of Transport's Air Accident Investigation Branch, the Inquiry established that despite the correct application of maintenance procedures, the DC electrical loom attached to No 4 engine had sustained mechanical damage, although it could not be positively determined how or when. Arcing occurred when the engine anti-icing system was switched on and this led to initiation of the air starter system. With the No 4 engine already running at idle as part of the overall airtest there was no load on the starter turbine, which quickly ran up to high speed. The nut holding the turbine disk in place failed, allowing the disk to move back on its shaft and out of its protective housing. It then struck the engine bypass casing and the No 2 fuel tank, puncturing both. The resultant fuel leak was ignited either by electrical arcing within the faulty DC loom or by the heat of the engine. The fire spread rapidly to the wing area and forward to the engine intake area.
The Inquiry concluded that a sequence of technical difficulties led to the uncontained fire.

Classification:
Inflight fire
Ditching

Sources:
» SKYbrary 
» AeroVenture South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum
» Aviation Week & Space Technology 22 May 1995
» UK Ministry of Defence, Military Aircraft Accident Summary


Photos

photo of BAe-Nimrod-R-1P-XW666
accident date: 16-05-1995
type: BAe Nimrod R.1P
registration: XW666
photo of BAe-Nimrod-R-1P-XW666
accident date: 16-05-1995
type: BAe Nimrod R.1P
registration: XW666
 

Map

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: languages

Share

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org