Air Force releases Predator accident report

Air Force releases Predator accident report: "Air Force officials at Langley Air Force Base, Va., said Sept. 2 that a disconnected vacuum line caused the April 28 crash of an MQ-1 Predator west of Creech Air Force Base, Nev.According to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report, most of the damage to the aircraft occurred when it executed a hard landing in the rough terrain surrounding the airfield.

The cost to repair the aircraft was $543,178. There were no injuries or damage to other property or equipment.The report states that the accident happened when the vacuum line became disconnected at a ‘T’ fitting. The vacuum line controls the flow of air that mixes with fuel to power the aircraft, and the loss of this line stalled the aircraft as a result of excess air in the fuel upon takeoff.The Predator was assigned to the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron at Creech."

(Via Air Force Times - News.)