UPDATED: F-35s Grounded for Engine Inspections Following Crash Investigation Findings

October 11, 2018 10:11 AM - Updated: October 11, 2018 9:10 PM
Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) John Jacob directs an F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) on March 5, 2018. US Navy Photo

THE PENTAGON — All U.S. and international variants of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter operations were paused to conduct a fleet-wide inspection of a part in the aircraft’s engine, according to a Thursday morning statement.

“The action to perform the inspection is driven from initial data from the ongoing investigation of the F-35B that crashed in the vicinity of Beaufort, South Carolina on 28 September,” read the statement from the F-35 Joint Program Office.
“The aircraft mishap board is continuing its work and the U.S. Marine Corps will provide additional information when it becomes available.”

The grounding follows the crash of an F-35B from training squadron Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) near Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, according to a statement at the time from II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). The pilot safely ejected and no one on the ground was injured.

According to the JPO, the inspection will look for specific defects in a fuel tube in the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine that powers all of the variants.

“If suspect fuel tubes are installed, the part will be removed and replaced. If known good fuel tubes are already installed, then those aircraft will be returned to flight status,” the statement said. “Inspections are expected to be completed within the next 24 to 48 hours. … The primary goal following any mishap is the prevention of future incidents. We will take every measure to ensure safe operations while we deliver, sustain and modernize the F-35 for the warfighter and our defense partners.”

The Navy has not had its variant of the F-35C underway since the completion of at-sea testing aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) last month.

The Marines have two squadrons of F-35Bs deployed with the Essex and Wasp Amphibious Ready Groups. The Essex ARG entered the Persian Gulf yesterday, several sources confirmed to USNI News. In September, F-35Bs from the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 “Wake Island Avengers” flying off USS Essex (LHD-2) conducted the platform’s first operational strikes over Afghanistan.

Some F-35s were back to operations quickly after inspections. For example, the F-35Bs testing on HMS Queen Elizabeth (R06) was paused only briefly and didn’t alter the testing schedule, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence.

The following is the complete Oct. 11, 2018 statement from the JSF Joint Program Office.
F-35 Fuel Tube Inspection and Flight Operations

The U.S. Services and international partners have temporarily suspended F-35 flight operations while the enterprise conducts a fleet-wide inspection of a fuel tube within the engine on all F-35 aircraft. If suspect fuel tubes are installed, the part will be removed and replaced. If known good fuel tubes are already installed, then those aircraft will be returned to flight status. Inspections are expected to be completed within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The action to perform the inspection is driven from initial data from the ongoing investigation of the F-35B that crashed in the vicinity of Beaufort, South Carolina on 28 September. The aircraft mishap board is continuing its work and the U.S. Marine Corps will provide additional information when it becomes available.

The primary goal following any mishap is the prevention of future incidents. We will take every measure to ensure safe operations while we deliver, sustain and modernize the F-35 for the warfighter and our defense partners.

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Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
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