Technical defects in the Russian air force's bomber fleet have been a major factor in recent fatal accidents, according to Lt Gen Sergei Solntsev, head of the armed forces flight safety service. An investigation into the September 2003 crash of a Tupolev Tu-160 in Engels, Saratov region, revealed that the aircraft had design and manufacturing faults, Solntsev says.
Russia's Tu-160 fleet was grounded for four months after the accident, which killed all four crew after an NK-32 engine failure caused an in-flight fire.
Official reports into the accident and the loss of a Tu-22M3 in the Novgorod region last year revealed 18 design and manufacturing defects in control and power supply systems, ejection seats and the nitrogen purging systems in the fuel tanks.
"Some of the shortcomings were listed in official tests before the aircraft were even adopted for service with the Russian air force, but have still not been removed," Solntsev told Aviapanorama magazine. Unsupported avionics upgrades are another area of concern, he says, along with worsening operating and maintenance conditions that restrict crews from training for emergency situations.
"State-owned aviation loses five aircraft annually on average due to technical reasons," he says.
Source: Flight International
