What happened
On 15 March 2024, at approximately 11:55 a.m. local time, a maintenance accident occurred in Building 16670, Bay Five, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska. An Airman assigned to the 90th Fighter Generation Squadron was performing maintenance on an F-22A, tail number AK 07-0137, operated by the Third Wing.
The task involved adjusting LAU-141 restraint fittings, which required a series of extensions and retractions of the Configurable Rail Launcher (CRL) within the aircraft's weapons bays. During this procedure, the CRL retracted into the weapons bay while the Airman's upper torso was positioned inside the bay. The movement caused the Airman's head to be trapped between the bulkhead and the plume deflector, resulting in one fatality.
The investigation
The Accident Investigation Board (AIB) examined the maintenance procedures and the actions of the six-person maintenance team. The investigation established that the team was performing the task using the cockpit's multi-functional display (MFD) rather than the required Portable Maintenance Aid (PMA). Furthermore, the board found that there was no direct line-ofER sight between the cockpit ladder and the right-side weapons bay during the operation.
The investigation also looked into the proficiency of the personnel involved, noting that several team members were undergoing training and had not yet completed the hands-on portion of their F-22A duties. The board also evaluated the effectiveness of communication and the adequacy of the crew briefing regarding the specific risks of the task.