Predator crash blamed on electrical short

[unhappycamper]

Predator crash blamed on electrical short
By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 18, 2008 16:30:25 EST

An electrical short likely brought down a $4 million MQ-1 Predator over Iraq, an Air Combat Command investigation concluded in a report issued Tuesday.

The remote-controlled airplane was 11 minutes into a flight from Joint Base Balad when the sensor operator checking readouts from the plane spotted warnings about the plane’s two batteries. The sensor operator told the pilot about the battery problems and the aircrew began emergency procedures.

As the crew started the emergency checklist, all signals from the Predator disappeared and the crew could not regain control of the plane.

The Predator crashed about a mile northwest of the base, and was destroyed.

Based on the telemetry readings before the crash and inspections by the Predator’s builder, General Atomics, the accident investigation board concluded an electrical short, caused by a malfunctioning alternator or cable, led to a power surge damaging the plane’s onboard flight computer, rendering the plane uncontrollable.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/11/airforce_predator_crashreport_111808w/%2e