ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 158651
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| Date: | Monday 19 August 2013 |
| Time: | 09:30 LT |
| Type: |  Rockwell B-1B Lancer |
| Owner/operator: | 28th BWg USAF |
| Registration: | 85-0091 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Broadus, 170 miles SE of Billings, Montana -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB, SD (RCA/KRCA) |
| Rapid City-Ellsworth AFB, SD (RCA/KRCA) | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Crashed during a routine training mission from Ellsworth Air Force Base. All four crew members ejected safely and landed with minor injuries.
The wings of the B-1B move from a forward position to an aft position to increase the aircraft's performance at different speeds. During a training mission, the pilot leveled the aircraft off at an altitude of roughly 20,000 feet. While on a descent to 10,000 feet, he swept the wings from the forward to the aft position. During the sweep, the aircraft developed an undetectable fuel leak in the main fuel line. Unbeknownst to the crew, approximately 7,000 pounds of fuel leaked into the aircraft during the training mission.
Eventually, the fuel contacted exposed portions of the hot precooler duct, ignited and caused an explosion that separated the left overwing fairing from the aircraft. Ignited fuel streamed from the exposed left overwing fairing cavity, heated one of the aircraft's fuel tanks, and ignited the fuel vapors inside the tank. This detonation spread through the fuel venting system that connects the fuel tanks in the aircraft, and resulted in a cascade of detonations that caused a complete and permanent loss of power to the crew compartment.
According to the results of the investigation, at some time prior to pilot's initiation of the wing sweep, the left fold down baffle became detached at one or more points, preventing it from folding as the wing swept aft. Because the baffle was detached, the wing pushed the baffle into the overwing fairing cavity where the tapered edge of the baffle cut a v-shaped hole in the main fuel line.
Sources:
http://www.argusleader.com/viewart/20130819/UPDATES/130819012/Ellsworth-B-1B-bomber-crashes-Montana-all-crew-members-survive
[LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/20/4423196/4-crew-names-released-from-b-1b.html]
http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-ranchers-helped-b--bomber-crew-after-crash/article_dac58af6-10d4-11e3-a01d-001a4bcf887a.html
http://www.businessinsider.com/startling-images-from-a-b-1-crash-in-montana-2013-8?IR=T
http://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/467867/b-1b-accident-report-released/
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Aug-2013 15:32 | Padidiver | Added |
| 19-Aug-2013 15:37 | Alpine Flight | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 20-Aug-2013 07:46 | Gordo | Updated [Time, Cn] |
| 20-Aug-2013 09:58 | Gordo | Updated [Time] |
| 20-Aug-2013 15:08 | krasatpi | Updated [Source] |
| 04-Jan-2018 12:25 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Operator, Location] |
| 04-Jan-2018 12:38 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 05-Jan-2018 13:01 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 12-Feb-2020 09:20 | Iwosh | Updated [Operator, Location, Operator] |
| 05-Jan-2024 14:53 | Z-Man | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport] |
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