• BuNo: 159757
• Location: Near Jacksonville, FL
• Date: Wed 06-Jul-1983
• Cause: Aircraft Mechanical Failure
• Findings: At approximately 1456 hours, during FCF (Functional Check Flight) in the Jacksonville Operating Area W-157 was uneventful until a 30-40 degrees left hand descending turn, passing 13,500 feet, a loud 'bang' was heard, followed by an unrecoverable roll to the right. Pilot believed he had control with stick full left with no apparent effect on roll rate.
  
  Ejection was initiated at 8,800 feet 30 degrees nose down, 300-330 KIAS, inverted.
  
  3 aileron servos had been installed in 3 months prior to crash. Also had two previous discrepancies for stiff lateral controls.
  
  Cause of this mishap cannot be exactly determined due to the aircraft lost at sea. Appears to be a sudden catastrophic material failure.
  
  Crew of 2 ejected safely.
  
  Source: JAG Investigation Report
  
  Comment from JAG Investigation Report:
  
  Because of conflicting conclusions of the cause of this mishap, between the Investigation Officer and the Fourth Endorsement (Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet), only opinions and hypothesis were submitted.
  
  An engineering investigation conducted to determine the possibility of such a failure, and methods of protecting against any possible future failures of the aileron servo.
  
  Adopt additional NATOPS emergency procedures addressing lateral control hardovers.

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