U.S. Air Force Aerospace Mishap Reports: Accident Investigation Board Report on May 2018 Crash with Fatalities of WC-130H Hercules Airlift Cargo Airplane at Savannah Hilton Head Airport, Georgia

This Air Force accident report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. Air Mobility Command released the results of its investigation into the WC-130H Hercules crash near Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Savannah, Georgia, May 2, that killed all nine Airmen on board.

The aircraft crew, assigned to the 156th Airlift Wing, Muniz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico, was on a mission to deliver the aircraft from Savannah/Hilton Head Airport to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. While rolling down the runway, during initial takeoff, the left outermost engine, also referred to as the number one engine, experienced significant decay in RPMs and torque which substantially lowered thrust (the force which moves the aircraft through the air).

The thrust deficiency went unrecognized by the crew until moments before liftoff when the aircraft veered left and nearly departed the runway into the grass before achieving flight. Upon initial ascent, the mishap crew failed to properly apply normal and emergency procedures to address the situation, including improper application of left rudder and making a left turn in the direction of the failed engine. The improper application of a left rudder resulted in a left-wing stall. The aircraft descended and impacted the terrain on Georgia State Highway 21. No bystanders were harmed by the crash.