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RAF Herc Hits Land Mine Landing in Helmand

The Bread Guy

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Shared with the usual disclaimer....


Report published on loss of RAF Hercules XV206 in Afghanistan
UK MoD news release, 25 Jul 07
Article link - Link to Board of Inquiry report table of contents

The MOD has today, Wednesday 25 July 2007, published the findings from a Royal Air Force Board of Inquiry (BOI) into the loss of an RAF Hercules C-130K in Afghanistan on 24 May 2006.

The BOI concluded that the aircraft was destroyed by fire after detonating an anti-tank mine on the Tactical Landing Zone. The explosion caused significant damage to the aircraft's landing gear, resulting in debris puncturing the left wing fuel tanks.

In turn this caused an uncontrollable fire leading to the loss of the aircraft. The Board of Inquiry concluded that, even if the aircraft had been fitted with Explosion Suppressant Foam (ESF), it would not have prevented its loss. This is because ESF does not prevent leaks when the fuel tanks are punctured.

Three passengers suffered minor injuries in the incident. The Board of Inquiry commended the crew on how they managed the situation, and for ensuring that all on board were evacuated quickly.

We cannot eliminate risk in military operations; therefore the Board of Inquiry has made a number of recommendations aimed at keeping our operations as effective and safe as they can be in operational theatres. The Board's recommendations included a review of Force Protection procedures at Tactical Landing Zones.

Air Command and Permanent Joint Headquarters have developed revised Force Protection procedures and tactics to be employed at Tactical Landing Zones in operational theatres. These are now being used by Force Protection teams on operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The loss of the aircraft has not impacted on current operations. The MOD is currently considering options for replacing the lost capability.

BOIs do not apportion blame. Instead they seek to identify the circumstances that resulted in the incident in order to prevent a recurrence.



HERCULES LANDMINE MIRACLE ESCAPE
Western Daily Press (UK), 26 Jul 07
Article link

An Raf Hercules that crashed in Afghanistan last year hit an anti-tank landmine.

The plane, based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, was destroyed when it burst into flames after it touched down at Lashkar Gar Tactical Landing Zone in Helmand province.

No one was killed because of the quick reactions from the Hercules crew, from No 47 Squadron, based at Lyneham, which specialises in putting SAS troopers into dangerous terrain.

Although the number one engine of the Hercules caught fire, all 37 people on board, including the British ambassador in Afghanistan Stephen Evans, were evacuated safely.

Armed Forces Minister Bon Ainsworth yesterday published the RAF Board of Inquiry into the crash, which concluded it detonated an anti-tank mine in the landing zone.

"The explosion caused significant damage to the aircraft's landing gear, resulting in debris puncturing the left wing fuel tanks. In turn this caused an uncontrollable fire leading to the loss of the aircraft."

Ten British servicemen died in 2005 when Iraqi insurgents shot down a similar Hercules, also based at Lyneham.

After that the MoD agreed to install Explosive Suppressant Foam (ESF) to the wings, a system that could have saved the aircraft. But yesterday's report says it could not have prevented the loss of the aircraft in Afghanistan.




 
We used to practise planting AT mines in airfields for various reasons, and the RAF always used to take the piss out of us. I hate to say that I feel vindicated now, but for some reason I do!
 
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