Pilot safety: award of distinction

Combat Edge, March, 2005 by Christina G. Szasz

On 10 Nov 04, Capt Christina Szasz was taking off on the third Surface Attack sortie of her initial F-117 qualification training at Holloman AFB, N.M.; only her seventh sortie in the aircraft. At 150 feet above ground level, the left Bleed Duct Overheat light illuminated, along with the Master Caution light. Similar bleed duct leaks have resulted in the loss of two F-117s in the past, so the situation is treated very seriously and is a boldface procedure. Capt Szasz applied the boldface, turning off the bleed duct switch associated with the light and went 100 percent oxygen on the regulator to avoid breathing possible smoke and fumes in the cockpit. She then maneuvered the jet away from populated areas and gained altitude while simultaneously dumping fuel to reduce gross weight for landing. The accompanying instructor pilot in the chase T-38 provided mutual support and backed up Capt Szasz with the F-117 checklist. Once on downwind, Capt Szasz referenced the Bleed Duct Leak checklist. The bleed duct overheat light had not extinguished when she turned off the switch; indicating a possible bleed air leak between the engine and the shutoff valve. This could mean the existence of high pressure air at 750[degrees] Fahrenheit burning through critical components in the engine bay which could quickly result in the loss of aircraft control. The checklist called for an engine shutdown and immediate landing. Single engine flight is difficult in the F-117 due to thrust limitation, and the high density altitude at Holloman AFB. Following the checklist, Capt Szasz shut down the left engine and flew a perfect single engine approach and landing. When Capt Szasz activated the drag chute upon landing, she noted a distinct lack of immediate deceleration, indicating that the drag chute did not deploy. Realizing the need to slow the jet immediately, Capt Szasz quickly applied maximum braking, stopping the jet with just a thousand feet remaining. Despite being very inexperienced in the F-117, Capt Szasz performed flawlessly in a worst-case scenario straight out of an emergency procedures evaluation, preventing further damage to the aircraft.

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Capt Christina G. Szasz, 7th Combat Training Squadron, 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, N.M.