A total electrical failure caused by a short circuit led to the crash of an MQ-1B Predator in the Central Command Area of Responsibility March 1, 2015, according to an Air Combat Command abbreviated accident investigation board report released on Wednesday September 9th.
The aircraft was assigned to the 432nd Wing, Creech Air Force Base, Nev., and was under the control of aircrew assigned to the 196th Reconnaissance Squadron, 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, based at March Air Force Base, California. At the time of the mishap, the aircraft was conducting a combat support mission. The aircraft was destroyed on impact with losses valued at approximately $3.9 million. There were no injuries or reported damage to private property as a result of the crash.
The board president determined, by a preponderance of evidence, that the cause of the mishap was a short circuit in the aircraft’s onboard printed wiring board. The short circuit caused electrical generation to exceed the capacity of both alternators and drained both batteries, leading to total electrical failure. Without electrical power, the aircraft was unable to sustain flight and crashed.
Photo: MQ-1 Predator of 163d Reconnaissance Wing of the California Air National Guard at Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, Calif., June 15, 2012 – Air National Guard Photo by Master Sgt. Julie Avey
Source: US Air Force