Image source: topwar.ru
American pilots practice aerobatics under the name Sierra Hotel - this is a cultural interpretation of the abbreviation SH, which in an acceptable form can be translated as "infernally difficult". When performing this maneuver, the aircraft, going into a 360-degree turn, resets its course; at the same time, the speed of the machine becomes lower than the landing gear exit speed, which seriously limits the time to adjust the fighter to landing.
According to the investigation, the incorrect execution of the maneuver caused the crash of the F-35C on board the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which occurred on January 24, 2022.
As indicated, the pilot, who performed this maneuver for the first time, drove the car at a speed of 370-390 knots before the turn, switched to the afterburner, which he turned off after a few seconds. He realized late that he had not turned on the on-board assistance system, which makes it possible to control the power of the power plant when landing, as a result, the engine idled, a sharp transition to maximum afterburner did not correct the situation.
As a result, the aircraft running in manual mode did not have enough speed, it hit the nose on the deck, the rocket bracket caught on the safety cable, which led to the rotation of the machine counterclockwise (this gave the crew time to run away). The wreckage of the aircraft injured five sailors on the ship, the EA-18G Growler that happened to be nearby was damaged ($ 2.5 million damage), the fighter itself began to move along the deck at a speed of 150 km/h by inertia, falling as a result into the South China Sea, the ejected pilot was injured.
Image source: topwar.ru
- wrote the commander of the US 7th Fleet, Vice Admiral Carl Thomas, revealing the outcome of a detailed investigation.
The pilot had a total flight time of 650.3 hours, of which 370.7 on the F-35C, "was well rested, mentally healthy and was among the best junior officers of the second aircraft carrier wing." The sky was mostly cloudless, the wind was blowing at a speed of 15 knots on deck, low waves were observed at sea.
- noted by the investigation.
A Navy spokesman told USNI News that due to the crash, the pilot was deprived of flight practice, but is still on duty. The investigation recommended that aviators, when using the Sierra Hotel maneuver, stop a sharp power reset and always use auxiliary throttle control systems when landing, and developers should install light indicators that display the operation of these systems.
