1991 Gulf War Boeing KC-135 accident

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1991 Gulf War Boeing KC-135 accident
160113-F-OA533-008.webp
The damage done to the aircraft involved
Accident
Date6 February 1991 (1991-02-06)
SummaryDual engine separation due to wake turbulence; subsequent emergency landing
SiteNear Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Aircraft
KC-135E Kansas ANG landing 2004.JPEG
58-0013, the aircraft involved in the accident, seen in 2004
Aircraft type Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker
Operator United States Air Force
Call signWHALE 05
Registration 58-0013
Flight origin Prince Abdullah Air Base, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Destination Prince Abdullah Air Base, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Occupants4
Crew4
Fatalities0
Survivors4

On 6 February 1991, a Boeing KC-135 of the United States Air Force (USAF) operated by the 190th Air Refueling Wing took off from Prince Abdullah Air Base, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, en route to a Gulf War refueling mission. The aircraft carried a crew of four. While in-flight, the aircraft lost engines one and two, both left-wing engines, while flying over the Saudi Arabian desert. To counteract the plane's descent, the pilots began dumping fuel. During the landing in Jeddah, due to the damage of the engine's hydraulic system, most of the descent was performed without autopilot. The aircraft landed safely at Jeddah. [1]

Contents

Background

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a Boeing KC-135E, manufactured by Boeing in 1959 with serial number 17758. It was powered by four Pratt & Whitney TF33-PW-102 engines. [1]

Crew

The crew consisted of: [2] :106

Accident

WHALE 05 was scheduled for take off from Jeddah at 17:24 local time and climbed to 25,000 feet (7,600 m) to perform an aerial refueling. Another Boeing KC-135 took off at around the same time and was supposed to fly the same route. The co-pilot of the second aircraft, ascended to the planned altitude of 25,000 feet (7,600 m). After reaching the target altitude, autopilot was engaged, and the aircraft was about one nautical mile behind the other KC-135. [3] :1

Approximately 45 minutes after takeoff, WHALE 05 encountered forward wake turbulence and suddenly banked more than 110 degrees to the left, and within a few seconds it banked more than 110 degrees to the right.[ citation needed ] The captain activated the speed brakes and restored the aircraft to a near horizontal position. During the sequence of events, the first and second left wing engines detached from the aircraft. [4] [5] After recovery, fire alarms on the two left side engines activated. The captain ordered the boom operator to look at the engines, who reported that there was no fire but that the engines were physically gone. [6] As the aircraft had only been airborne for a short time, it still held almost 31,000 gallons of fuel. [7] [8] In addition, the hydraulic reception, fuel pumps, and landing gear were damaged when the engines detached, and fuel was spilling from the left wing. [9] [3] :1 [2] :106

The aircraft involved, seen here after the emergency landing U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker 58-0013 shortly after landing at Jeddah-Prince Abdullah Air Base.jpg
The aircraft involved, seen here after the emergency landing

To maintain altitude and the speed of fuel discharge, the captain declared "Mayday" and decided to return to Jeddah. The aircraft returned to level flight at 16,000 feet (4,900 m). The pilot soon arrived at Prince Abdullah Air Base an hour and fifteen minutes later. Since the hydraulic system had been damaged, the landing gear was deployed manually. The pilots requested to land on runway 34L because it was the longest runway and had an instrument landing system (ILS) approach.[ citation needed ] During the landing, the pilot deployed a third engine thrust reverser, but immediately discontinued its use due to difficulty in directional control. Although several tires were damaged, the aircraft landed and came to a stop at about 300 m (1,000 ft) from the end of the runway. [10] [3] :1

Dramatization

The accident was featured in the seventh episode of the twenty-first season of the Canadian show Mayday: Air Disasters, titled "Mission Disaster." [11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Ranter, Harro. "Accident Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker 58-0013, Wednesday 6 February 1991". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Voices_from_an_Old_Warrior.pdf" (PDF). www.theboomsignal.net. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "national guard.mil/Resources/Archives/The-On-Guard/Filed/63083/". www.nationalguard.mil. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  4. Gilliand, Bill (13 October 2010). "The Desert: Part Three". 190th Air Refueling Wing. Fuerza Aérea de los Estados Unidos . Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  5. "25th Anniversary of Desert Storm: Grissom Airmen share their story". Grissom Air Reserve Base. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  6. "Gen. Mick Baier: 190th Air Refueling Wing expected one in five losses in Gulf War - News - The Topeka Capital-Journal - Topeka, KS". 17 May 2021. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  7. Leone, Dario (30 January 2017). "KNOWN AND UNKNOWN FACTS OF THE KC-135 STRATOTANKER PARTICIPATION IN OPERATION DESERT STORM". The Aviation Geek Club. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  8. "Lt. Colonel Kevin Sweeney Receives Honor From General Charles Horner". www.newswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  9. Leone, Dario (30 January 2017). "KNOWN AND UNKNOWN FACTS OF THE KC-135 STRATOTANKER PARTICIPATION IN OPERATION DESERT STORM". The Aviation Geek Club. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  10. KSNGMuseum (19 July 2013). "190th Air Refueling Wing". Kansas National Guard Museum. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  11. TV, NatGeo. "National Geographic - Lentoturmatutkinta". www.natgeotv.com (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 January 2025.