U.S. Air Force Aerospace Mishap Reports: Accident Investigation Board Report on February 2018 F-16CM Fighting Falcon Fighter Aircraft Engine Fire on Takeoff from Misawa Air Base (AB), Japan

This Air Force accident report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. The mishap aircraft (MA) experienced an engine fire shortly after take-off from runway (RWY) 28 at Misawa Air Base (AB), Japan because an obsolete turbine frame forward fairing on the mishap engine (ME) failed during takeoff. Evidence collected from the Crash Survivable Flight Data Recorder (CSFDR) and the ME, to include the augmenter/exhaust nozzle assembly, indicate the turbine frame forward fairings failed. During the mishap pilot's (MPs) takeoff, the installed turbine forward fairing segment fractured, causing portions of the fairing to lift into the cooling airflow between the exhaust liner and the flame produced by the afterburner. Without the cooling air, the exhaust liner and the downstream components were exposed to temperatures beyond their heat tolerance, resulting in a fire.

The obsolete forward fairings had previously been called to be replaced by Time Compliance Technical Order 2J-F110129-682 (TCTO-682) in 2007. TCTO-682 required that all obsolete forward fairings be replaced with fairings made of a stronger composite material and updated design which included wear strips. TCTO-682 required all titanium forward fairings be replaced by 07 August 2010. Although the ME had its obsolete fairings properly replaced in 2010, the updated fairings were later erroneously re-replaced with the obsolete fairings during an engine Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) in 2012. The obsolete fairing had been on the ME for approximately 760 flight hours when it failed.

The Heads Up display (HUD) video, Crash Survivable Flight Data Recorder (CSFDR), tower transcripts, and a review of the Supervisor of Flight (SOF), mishap lead pilot (MLP), and MP's testimony, confirms the MP flew and landed the MA in accordance with flight manual and critical action procedures. The MP emergency jettisoned his fuel stores in accordance with the F-16CM fire-in-flight critical actions procedures. The MP's actions during the mishap flight were focused, precise, and appropriate; his actions did not contribute to the mishap.

1. SUMMARY OF FACTS 2. AIRFRAME, MISSILE, OR SPACE VEHICLE SYSTEMS 3. CREW QUALIFICATIONS 4. GOVERNING DIRECTIVES AND PUBLICATIONS 5. STATEMENT OF OPINION 6. CONCLUSION