Program Executive Office (Cruise Missiles and Joint Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)
Commercial: (301) 757-6316
Fax: (301) 757-6343
DATE: 17 July 98
CL-327 ACCIDENT MISHAP RESULTS RELEASED
PATUXENT RIVER, MD / MONTREAL, CANADA / LAWTON, OK --The joint U.S. Navy / Bombardier Service Corporation mishap board has completed its investigation into the cause of the Bombardier CL-327 accident on 10 June 1998. The CL-327 Guardian departed from controlled flight five hours, nine minutes into a planned six hour flight while conducting flight test at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground in support of the U.S. Navy Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Demonstration Program.
The board concluded that the lower fuel tank attachment lugs failed in flight resulting in tank separation from the air vehicle, engine fuel starvation and departure from controlled flight. The composite lugs failed due to resin deprivation and delamination under normal flight loads. Corrective action has been initiated to strengthen the lower fuel tank attachment lugs in the two additional CL-327s built and future production vehicles. For additional information on PEO(CU) programs, see the PEO(CU) web page at http://www.peocu.js.mil.
For further information contact: Ms. Sandy Schroeder
Deputy Public Affairs Officer, PEO(CU)
Office: (301) 757-5289