Ejector rack malfunction blamed in inert bomb drop - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Ejector rack malfunction blamed in inert bomb drop

A problem with the bomb release mechanism on an A/OA-10 caused the aircraft to inadvertently drop an inert practice munition Nov. 29, hitting a civilian factory in South Korea, the 51st Fighter Wing announced Wednesday.

An investigation by the 51st Wing Safety office and the Republic of Korea Air Force revealed that the Triple Ejector Rack on the aircraft malfunctioned when the pilot tried to drop the BDU-33 at a practice range, leaving the BDU “unsecure.” It later fell as the aircraft returned to base.

The aircraft is from the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea.

With the investigation complete, the 25th Fighter Squadron will resume training with the BDU-33 this week.

The 25-pound, nonexplosive practice munition struck a civilian factory in northern Choong-chung province, damaging the building but causing no injuries.

After the incident, Brig. Gen Joe Reynes, 51st Fighter Wing commander, ordered a wingwide standdown of flying to provide for a thorough review of procedures, according to a press release from the wing.

Reynes has ordered the implementation of several recommendations to prevent future inadvertent releases.

The most significant recommendations include a request for clarification of aircraft maintenance technical data to quantify the torque required while loading BDU-33s and future flight tests for the SUU-20 ejector rack, which is used on both the A/OA-10 and the F-16.