Engine 'Destroyed Itself' During Takeoff Roll During Training Exercise

The RAAF has released a report from an accident involving an EA-18G Growler airplane taking part in a military exercise at Nellis AFB outside Las Vegas in January.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports that, according to an officer who spoke to the network on the condition of anonymity that the engine of the airplane "destroyed itself" during the takeoff roll. The officer said that the two pilots "did an incredible job to stay with the jet and keep control to avoid hitting other aircraft parked nearby."

The investigation showed that the high-pressure compressor in the engine broke into three parts when it failed. One piece penetrated the bottom of the airplane and gouged the runway. A second part damaged the other engine in the aircraft, and a third piece shot upward and damaged the starboard tail fin.

The aircraft caught fire as it came to a stop. The airplane has been determined to be unrepairable.

The RAAF has 11 Growlers remaining in its fleet, and it has not decided whether to replace the destroyed airplane.

(Image from file. Not incident accident airplane)

FMI: Source report