A defective safety relay in the F-35B's internal weapons hold caused a fire on the tactical Marine platform last October. The problem is already known, but it would concern the entire line of the already produced B version.
According to the official version, the fire of the 27 last October was caused by the rubbing of the electrical connections, held by the defective relay, with the hydraulic lines of the internal hold of the weapons. Fortunately, the pilot managed to land safely and did not report any damage.
The fire on the F-35B of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 501 based in Beaufort, South Carolina, has caused first-class damage of at least two million dollars, according to reports from the Naval Safety Center.
We were aware of the problem - confirmed General Chris Bogdan, head of the Joint Program Office - and that a new safety bracket was needed. The Marine Corps has decided to continue the flight operations. However - explains Bogdan - the controls on the brackets will be more rigid.
Bogdan's conclusion is particular: "No F-35B has yet received a new bracket, but it is one of the many recognized risks of aircraft. Until we fix that safety bracket correctly, every F-35B will have to be inspected periodically in the hope that it will hold up in flight".
It is not yet clear when the retrofit process will begin and the exact number of F-35B involved.
Last September, an F-35A caught fire while carrying out ground operations at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The fire spread from the aft section of the aircraft and was quickly shut down. The main cause of the accident has not yet been made public.
(photo: USMC)
