Degraded radio signals and a malfunctioning nosewheel caused the crash of two remotely piloted aircraft in separate events last year, Air Force investigations boards found.
The service released abbreviated accident reports June 10 for the April 2015 crash of an MQ-1 Predator operating in the Central Command area; and the May 2015 crash of an MQ-9 Reaper in the Africa Command area. Neither aircraft was brought down due to enemy action, the Air Force said.
The Predator crashed because the pilot didn't switch controls from the default frequency to the assigned operating frequency after takeoff, investigators said. With other transmitters sending out signals in the area, the "cluttered frequency environment" caused controllers to lose contact with the RPA.
The aircraft was operated by personnel from the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. The accident report did not state whether any disciplinary action was taken against the pilot or sensor operator. While the crash did not cause any injuries or damage to personal property on the ground, the damage to the Predator was estimated at $4.66 million, the report said.
Meanwhile the Reaper crashed after a malfunctioning nosewheel servo driver caused the aircraft to lose control upon landing. A servo drive is a special electronic amplifier used to power electric servomechanisms. It monitors the feedback signal from the servomechanism and adjusts for deviation from expected behavior.The breakdown of the nosewheel,which was locked at 12 degrees left of center, affected steering, and the pilot was unable to control the craft via the rudder once it touched down. Again there were no injuries or damage to civilian property, but the "extensive damage" done to the out of control Reaper was estimated at $6.70 million.
The craft was operated by personnel from the 33rd Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, 17th Expeditionary Air Force, the report said.
