S3 Viking History

BuNo: 159389
Location: USS Roosevelt
Date: Wed 09-Jan-2002
Cause: Aircraft Mechanical Failure
Findings: Attached to the USS Roosevelt, while orbiting at 14,000 feet, the aircraft experience a #1 bleed air leak light followed by a #2 bleed air leak light, loss of cabin pressurization and billowing smoke and fumes in the cockpit. Emergency recovery was requested, as aircraft descended, it experienced #1 Hydraulic pressure light immediately followed by #1 Hydraulic reservoir low level light and loss of radio communication. Pilot attempted to slow aircraft to landing configuration and began dumping fuel. Pilot continued to porpoise the aircraft to reduce speed and lock the landing gear down using the emergency extension. Due to an indication that the landing gear was not down and locked, the pilot waved off from landing.

As the pilot made his 2nd approach the gear handle mismatched light went out, however the instrument panel showed unsafe indications for the nose and left and right main landing gear. As the aircraft toucheddown and trapped the #3 arresting gear wire, the nose and right main landing gear collapsed, and aircraft came to rest on its right fuel tank, nose radome, and right engine. Following arrestment, the aircraft subsequently caught fire on the starboard engine.

Cause of mishap was determined to be an ECS Compartment fire resulting from a separated hydraulic line flowing atomized hydraulic fluid over hot bleed air lines.

Source: JAG Investigation Report

Comments from JAG Report: This is the second occurrence during this deployment, and the fourth occurrence for this squadron during the last three years, where an external store failed to jettison from an S-3B when selected. This failure contributed directly to the mishap.

The original emergency procedure executed, #1 Bleed Air Leak Light, followed immediately by #2 Bleed Air Leak Light, and was compounded in a rapid succession by: Smoke and fumes in cockpit, #1 Hydraulic pressure light, #1 Hydraulic reservoir low level light, Loss of radio communications, Speed Brake light, Wing and Fin Unlock Lights, Loss of TACAN, Loss of Speed Brake Control, Loss of Flap Control, Unsafe Gear Indications, Cabin Pressure Air Leak Light, Loss of Trim Control, Loss of Indexers.

Aircraft was termed not repairable due to structural failure caused by heavy weight trap. Was craned off and Stricken/SARDIP/Scrapped onsite NAS Norfolk.

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