AF report: Drone crash caused by loss of coolant
An Air Force investigative report says a Predator drone crashed in Afghanistan in January because of a loss of engine coolant.
The aircraft and one air-to-ground Hellfire missile were destroyed on impact just outside a fence at Kandahar Air Base. There were no injuries or property damage. The accident report was released by Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia on Thursday.
The Air Force estimates the value of the loss at $4.5 million. Among other things, the accident investigation board president found that a maintainer failed to detect damage on the coolant supply line during an engine inspection.
The drone was operated by the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev.
