B-2 Crash Investigation Results

FULL DISCLOSURE: Most of this post comes from the September 2008 Issue of Popular Mechanics.

For nearly 20 years the Air Force's B-2 stealth bomber had a perfect flying safety record. that ended last February when the B-2 Spirit of Kansas crashed on take-off at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The warplane ataggered just above the runway before dragging a wingtip on the ground and tumbling into a fireball. both pilots ejected safely a split second before impact. rsults of the Air Force's four month investigation have been released: the $1.4 billion technical marvel was brought down by a few drops of water in therr of the 24 air-pressure sensors that feed data to the B-2's flight control system (FCS). The "fly-by-wire" system's four computers translate the pilot's stick-and-rudder input into movement of the plane's control surfaces. The water, most likely the result of high humidity, distorted the plane's air-pressure readings. A crewman recalibrated the sensore, but once the moisture evaporated, the sensors gave false data. The FCS triggered a premature take-off and overruled the pilot's efforts to regain control. "The pressure differences were miniscule, but they were enough to confuse the FCS, "Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, who headed the Air Force's investigation, tells PM. The sensors rearly pick up moisture in the climate-controlled hangars of the B-2's base in Missouri. but in Guam the planes are sometimes stored outside. Crews will now heat the sensors to evaporate any condensed water before calibrating them. (END OF POPULAR MECHANICS STORY).

The video below was released by the Air Force. This video shows two B-2 takes offs...the first is successful the second is the Spirit of Kansas. The camera used is most likely mounted atop the tower or some other tall building in close proximity to the runway.