BUFF crash

The report on the Buff crash on Guam has been out for a time now. I think everyone has had a chance to read it and mull it over. If you haven’t the above link will get you there.

Our Bob blog has not said much about it and I value your experienced opinions.

After reading the report I was horrified at the description of the crash. I can’t , for the life of me, imagine a B-52 getting that out of control that quickly. I don’t understand and can’t swallow the explanation of a runaway stab trim. scenario unraveling that quickly to hitting the water in a near vertical dive at almost 600 knots. How many times have you participated in simulator rides with runaway trim? How many sims have you given to students over the years with this kind of results? Instinctively I recoil at the idea that a runaway stab could put the nose that far down that quickly. I know that the Buff increases in positive trim as it gets faster – until Mach tuck.– No mach tuck at this altitude possible.

I suppose that what little they could recover of the aircraft didn’t give them much to analyze. It seems to me that an investigation of the auto-pilots roll in this accident would be a better avenue. Putting myself in the situation and knowing the younger crowds flying habits and experience, leads me to suspect an auto pilot induced roll to inverted flight with unsuccessful recovery from the unusual attitude. There wasn’t a single word in the report about unusual attitude recovery.

I know of at least one incident at the 20th BS a few years ago were a young guy allowed the auto pilot to get him near inverted on a bombrun. He came very close to killing himself and his crew and destroying the aircraft. Only a high G recovery that badly damaged the jet saved them.

I have, on many occasions, had the auto pilot attempt to overbank the jet on altitude hold. I never trusted the damn thing for that reason and always monitored the bank closely when using the roll knob. Also as much as I liked the young pilot involved in this accident, I was uncomfortable with the over-the-top explanations they gave in the report to exonerate the crew of responsibility for the crash. Again absolutely no discussion of unusual attitude recovery. Even if you buy the runaway trim story, the next part of that string is recovery. Every scenario involving runaway trim in the EP sim involved recovery from the unusual attitude caused by the trim problem.

Also it is completely obvious that flight over water, on a calm day, with no land around, leads to disorientation. Again not a word in the report about a lack of horizon and its impact on the ‘pilot” trying to recover from an unusual attitude.

I never flew with the pilot, but I do remember discussions about his performance at the 20th BS and his weakness during pattern operations at night - with no horizon- recognizing over banks in turns. The report would have you believe this crew was above reproach in responsibility and that runaway trim is unrecoverable in the B-52 for even experienced pilots.

Don’t’ buy it! What do you think?