A rapid oil leak that resulted in an engine seizure caused the April 26 crash of an MQ-1B Predator near Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, according to a summary of an Air Combat Command accident report released Thursday. The Predator, which was assigned to the 214th Reconnaissance Squadron from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., was lost during an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission from Jalalabad. The accident board president found by clear and convincing evidence that the cause of the incident was a rapid loss of oil resulting in an engine seizure that made the aircraft unable to maintain altitude or return to base. The Predator was destroyed on ground impact for a loss of approximately $4.61 million. There were no injuries or damage to private property. (Click here for full report; Caution, large-sized file.)
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.