Flight Lieutenant Paul J. Simmons

Flying Safety, July, 2001

333 ES

Seymour Johnson AFB, NC

On 23 March 2000, Fit Lt Simmons was conducting 2v2 intercepts off the coast of North Carolina as part of his formal course training in the F-15E Strike Eagle. He had terminated a successful engagement and was attempting to rejoin lead when his aircraft started to vibrate severely. His weapons systems officer (WSO) immediately directed a turn toward land and a reduction in power to slow the aircraft. They quickly assessed that the bottom half of the right rudder had departed the aircraft. Additionally, the right vertical stabilizer was wildly fluctuating, causing severe vibrations and questionable aircraft control. As the aircraft slowed through 350 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS), the vibration became so severe that Fit lit Simmons increased power to maintain control.

Concerned with a possible ejection over the ocean in windy conditions and high waves, Flt Lt Simmons declared an emergency with Air Traffic Control while the WSO coordinated actions with the Seymour Johnson Supervisor of Flying (SOF). He advised the SOF that they would need clear airspace over land and a conference HOTEL procedure with the Boeing engineers in St. Louis. The FSO quickly cleared the ECHO military operating area and connected with the Boeing engineers. Flt Lt Simmons held in an unpopulated portion of the airspace and prepared for possible ejection.

With the FSO relaying instructions from the Boeing engineers in St. Louis, the aircrew ran the appropriate checklist procedures and found them to have no effect on the controllability of the aircraft. Slowing the aircraft enough to make a safe approach and landing became the primary concern. With all options exhausted, and prepared for ejection, they followed the engineers instructions and reduced airspeed. Slowing through 300 KIAS, the vertical stab flutter increased dramatically, severely damaging the entire aft end of the aircraft. At 260 KIAS, the flutter became manageable enough that the aircrew felt they could safely attempt an approach to land. Flt Lt Simmons flew a straight-in approach to a flawless landing. Post-flight inspection revealed severe damage to the right vertical and right horizontal stabilators due to excessive vibration. The right rudder was totally destroyed.

Fit Lt Simmons' superior airmanship and cool reaction in an extremely dangerous flight situation prevented potential civilian death and destruction of property and averted the loss of an F-15E Strike Eagle valued at $54 million.