Date:
1976
Cause:
Mechanical Failure
Condition:
D/N
Day

Wing/Base:
63 MAW/SBD
Location:
Comox RCAFB Canada
IMC/VMC
VMC
From C141heaven.com


Tail #:
?
Fatalities:
None
Fatigue?
No


Synopsis:  The “A” model aircraft was in cruise when a couple jolts were felt.  The pilot disconnected the autopilot and yaw damper.  The aircraft entered a violent yaw and subsequent vertical dive.  The pilot regained control and recovered the aircraft with only minor injuries to the crew.


While cruising at FL390, and without warning, the aircraft nose swung sharply to the right.  The pilot disconnected the autopilot, and yaw damper.  The Dutch Roll became worse.  He started a descent and regained control at FL310.  The #2 and #3 yaw damper rate gyros were replaced and the write-up was signed off.

The next day while returning to home base, cruising at FL410, the crew felt a couple small jolts.  They disconnected the autopilot and waited.  After a few moments when nothing more was felt, they reconnected the autopilot.  Moments later the nose slammed violently to the right.  The pilot disconnected the autopilot and yaw damper.  He attempted to control the Dutch Roll with aileron.  Within seconds the aircraft was partially inverted.  The rolling and yawing continued as pitch reached 90 degrees nose down.  Loose objects flew around the cockpit.  The crew bunk mattress and the Navigator wound up lying across the instrument panel, hindering vision and control movements.  

The pilot regained control and recovered from the high-speed dive at 17,000 feet.  The crew performed a controllability check and recovered the aircraft to the nearest military base.  Large pieces of the upper wing skin and pieces of both petal doors were missing.  Flight recorder data indicated “G” loadings of +3.18 to -3.52 and a maximum of 450 KIAS.  Investigators were unable to confirm the maximum Mach, but suspect that it exceeded Mach 1.0.

Accident investigators found that the aircraft had experienced seven yaw related flight control malfunctions, none given a red “X”.  A dual malfunction of the autopilot junction box and the yaw damper control panel caused intermittent spurious signals to the yaw damper, yet gave a satisfactory test indication.[25]

Wow, I bet I couldn't fit that pilots balls in a backpack if he didn't shit himself when that happened.

Anybody have a tail number?

I bet it's next trip was to the boneyard.

Altitude is your friend when stuff like that happens ! Bad Otto pilot ! Badddd !