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The U.S. Air Force has concluded its investigation into the crash on Jun. 25, 2020 of a MQ-9 assigned to the 108th Attack Squadron.
Photo: U.S. Air Force
It was found that the pilot had pulled the wrong lever on the control panel which caused the fuel shutoff valve to close and shutting off the engine during the take off.
The pilot had wanted to raise the flaps from 15 to 0 degrees. The flap lever was next to the condition lever. To do that, the flap lever had to be forward. But instead, the pilot pulled the condition lever backwards. Doing that activates the fuel shutoff valve, cutting fuel to the engine.
As the audio and visual warning of engine out was broacast by the control station, the crew initiated a Critical Action Procedures for engine failure. One of the procedure is to pull the condition lever full back. However, the pilot made another mistake by pulling the flap lever full aft. Setting the flaps at 45 degrees and this created more drag as the aircraft glide towards ground.
The MQ-9 struck the ground 21 seconds after engine failure and it hit an airport runway light, spun 180 degrees, and came to a rest at the end of the runway.
The investigation board also found that the layout of the flap and control lever is a contributing factor. Both are just an inch apart and they are without labels, markings, color differentiation, or a safety guard.
“These levers could easily be mistaken by an inexperienced, fatigued, or confused crew member,” the report says.
Photo: U.S. Air Force
It was found that the pilot had pulled the wrong lever on the control panel which caused the fuel shutoff valve to close and shutting off the engine during the take off.
The pilot had wanted to raise the flaps from 15 to 0 degrees. The flap lever was next to the condition lever. To do that, the flap lever had to be forward. But instead, the pilot pulled the condition lever backwards. Doing that activates the fuel shutoff valve, cutting fuel to the engine.
As the audio and visual warning of engine out was broacast by the control station, the crew initiated a Critical Action Procedures for engine failure. One of the procedure is to pull the condition lever full back. However, the pilot made another mistake by pulling the flap lever full aft. Setting the flaps at 45 degrees and this created more drag as the aircraft glide towards ground.
The MQ-9 struck the ground 21 seconds after engine failure and it hit an airport runway light, spun 180 degrees, and came to a rest at the end of the runway.
The investigation board also found that the layout of the flap and control lever is a contributing factor. Both are just an inch apart and they are without labels, markings, color differentiation, or a safety guard.
“These levers could easily be mistaken by an inexperienced, fatigued, or confused crew member,” the report says.
