Avro Vulcan
Accidents and incidents
Accidents and incidents
-----------------------

*  On 1 October 1956, Vulcan B.1 XA897, the first to be delivered, crashed at London Heathrow Airport during Operation Tasman Flight, a flag\-waving trip to Australia and New Zealand. After a [ground\-controlled approach](/wiki/Ground-controlled_approach "Ground-controlled approach") in bad weather, it struck the ground  short of the runway just as engine power was applied.Blackman 2007, p. 142\. The impact probably broke the drag links on the main undercarriage, allowing the undercarriage to be forced backwards and damaged the wing's trailing edge. After the initial impact, XA897 rose back in the air. The pilot, Squadron Leader D. R. Howard, and co\-pilot Air Marshal [Sir Harry Broadhurst](/wiki/Harry_Broadhurst "Harry Broadhurst"), AOC\-in\-C Bomber Command, both ejected and survived, the other four occupants (including a spare pilot and an Avro representative) were killed when the aircraft hit the ground again and broke up.Gallop 2005, pp. 114–115\.["Catalogue Ref. AIR 20/12396\."](http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/) *National Archives*, 1956\.
* In 1957, a Vulcan B.1 XA892 attached to the A\&AEE at Boscombe Down for acceptance testing was unintentionally flown to an indicated Mach number (IMN) above 1\.04, alerting the crew that it had reached supersonic speed. XA892's commander, Flt Lt Milt Cottee (RAAF), and co\-pilot, Flt Lt Ray Bray (RAF), were tasked to fly at  and 0\.98 IMN, taking the aircraft to a [load factor](/wiki/Load_factor_%28aeronautics%29 "Load factor (aeronautics)") of 3 *g*. It climbed to  and then dived, intending to reach the target speed at . Approaching the target altitude, the throttles were closed and full up\-elevator applied, but XA892 continued to pitch nose\-down. Cottee contemplated pushing forward to go [inverted](/wiki/Aerobatics_%28radio-controlled_aircraft%29%23Inverted_flight "Aerobatics (radio-controlled aircraft)#Inverted flight") and then rolling upright; instead, he opened the speed brakes. Although the airspeed was above their maximum operating speed, the speed brakes were undamaged and did slow the aircraft, which came back past the vertical at about  and levelled off at . No sonic boom was reported, so a true Mach number of 1\.0 was unlikely to have been reached. Afterwards, a rear bulkhead was found to be deformed.Blackman 2007, p. 90\.
[thumb\|The prototype Vulcan VX770 in 1954, retaining the original "pure delta" wing shape](/wiki/File:Avro_Vulcan_VX770_A.V.Roe_Farnborough_11.09.54_edited-2.jpg "Avro Vulcan VX770 A.V.Roe Farnborough 11.09.54 edited-2.jpg")
* On 20 September 1958, prototype [Vulcan VX770](/wiki/1958_Syerston_Avro_Vulcan_crash "1958 Syerston Avro Vulcan crash") was flown by a Rolls\-Royce test pilot on an engine\-performance sortie with a flypast at [RAF Syerston](/wiki/RAF_Syerston "RAF Syerston") Battle of Britain *At Home* display. It flew along the main runway then started a roll to [starboard](/wiki/Starboard "Starboard") and climbed slightly, during which the starboard wing disintegrated and the main [spar](/wiki/Spar_%28aviation%29 "Spar (aviation)") collapsed. VX770 went into a dive with the starboard wing on fire and struck the ground, killing three occupants of a controllers' caravan and all four crew on board. Proposed causes of the structural failure have included pilot error, metal fatigue due to air intake vibration, and inadequate maintenance."Extract from National Archives: Ref no. BT 233/403 report on the crash." *National Archives*, Retrieved: 24 August 2010\.["Anniversary of Vulcan crash."](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7626243.stm) *BBC News*, 19 September 2008\.
* On 24 October 1958, Vulcan B.1 XA908 of [No. 83 Squadron](/wiki/No._83_Squadron_RAF "No. 83 Squadron RAF") crashed east of [Detroit](/wiki/Detroit "Detroit"), Michigan, USA. A complete electrical failure occurred around . The backup system should have provided 20 minutes of emergency power, allowing XA908 to reach one of several airports in the area, but backup power lasted only three minutes due to a short circuit in the service [busbar](/wiki/Busbar "Busbar"), locking the controls. Bound for [Lincoln AFB](/wiki/Lincoln_Airport_%28Nebraska%29%23History "Lincoln Airport (Nebraska)#History") in [Nebraska](/wiki/Nebraska "Nebraska"), XA908 went into a steep dive before crashing, leaving a  crater in the ground, which was later excavated while retrieving wreckage. Despite extensive property damage, there were no ground fatalities and only one hospitalisation. All six crew members were killed, including the co\-pilot, who had ejected. The co\-pilot's ejection seat was found in [Lake St Clair](/wiki/Lake_Saint_Clair_%28North_America%29 "Lake Saint Clair (North America)"), but his body was not recovered until the following spring.Blackman 2007, p. 161\. They were buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery in [Trenton, Michigan](/wiki/Trenton%2C_Michigan "Trenton, Michigan"), alongside 11 RAF student pilots killed during the Second World War in accidents at nearby [Naval Air Station Grosse Ile](/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Grosse_Ile "Naval Air Station Grosse Ile").Bak, Richard. ["Mayday! Fifty years ago, a British bomber crashed into an east\-side Detroit neighbourhood."](http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/July-2008/Mayday/index.php?cparticle=2&siarticle=1)  *Hour Detroit*, July 2008\.
* On 24 July 1959, Vulcan B.1 XA891 crashed due to an electrical failure during an engine test. Shortly after takeoff, the crew observed generator warning lights and loss of busbar voltage. The aircraft commander, Avro Chief Test Pilot Jimmy Harrison,Blackman 2007, p. 112\. climbed XA891 to , steering away from the airfield and populated areas, while the AEO attempted to solve the problem. When it became clear that control would not be regained, Harrison instructed the rear compartment crew to exit the aircraft and the co\-pilot to eject, before ejecting himself. All the crew survived, making them the first complete Vulcan crew to successfully escape. The aircraft crashed near [Kingston upon Hull](/wiki/Kingston_upon_Hull "Kingston upon Hull").
* On 26 October 1959, Vulcan B.1 XH498 participated in an airshow marking the opening of [Wellington International Airport](/wiki/Wellington_International_Airport "Wellington International Airport"), formerly [Rongotai Airport](/wiki/Rongotai_Airport "Rongotai Airport"). After a "[touch\-and\-go landing](/wiki/Touch-and-go_landing "Touch-and-go landing")" on Runway 34, it came around for a full\-stop landing. Turbulence and wind shear caused XH498 to land short of the runway threshold. The port undercarriage leg clipped the embankment at the Moa point or southern end, damaging wing attachments, engine fuel lines, and the main landing gear drag link, which was ruptured and unable to support the aircraft. The port wing tip nearly scraped the runway surface before it was able to lift off again, spilling fuel over the crowd. Pilot actions prevented a possible disaster as spectators were present on the western apron. XH498 flew to RNZAF Ohakea for a safe emergency landing on just the nose and starboard landing gear with little further damage. A UK repair team returned it to airworthiness; on 4 January 1960, XH498 departed, remaining in service until 19 October 1967\.
* On 16 September 1960, Vulcan B.2 XH557 damaged the "Runway Garage" at [Filton](/wiki/Bristol_Filton_Airport "Bristol Filton Airport"). XH557 had been allocated to Bristol Siddeley Engines to test the Olympus 301 engine and was being delivered to Filton. Approaching in poor weather conditions, the aircraft touched down halfway along the runway. The braking parachute was streamed, but realising the aircraft would not stop in time, the captain opened the throttles to go round. The Runway Garage took the full force of the jet blast and property damage was sustained; four petrol pumps were blown flat, a streetlight on the A38 was knocked down, railings were blown over, and multiple cars had their windscreens shattered. The aircraft diverted to St. Mawgan, flying into Filton days later.Baxter 1992, p. 60\.
* On 12 June 1963, Vulcan B.1A XH477 of [No. 50 Squadron](/wiki/No._50_Squadron_RAF "No. 50 Squadron RAF") crashed in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. During a low\-level exercise, the Vulcan was flown into terrain. All five crewmembers were killed.Blackman 2007, p. 154\.Laming 2002, p. 219\.
* On 11 May 1964, Vulcan B.2 XH535 crashed during a demonstration. The aircraft entered a spin while a very low speed and high rate of descent were being demonstrated. The landing parachute was deployed, stopping the spin briefly before it began to spin again. Around , the aircraft commander instructed the crew to abandon the aircraft. The commander and co\-pilot ejected successfully, but none of the rear compartment crew did so, presumably due to the *g* forces in the spin.Blackman 2007, p. 155\.
* On 16 July 1964, Vulcan B.1A XA909 crashed in [Anglesey](/wiki/Anglesey "Anglesey") after a midair explosion caused both No. 3 and No. 4 engines to be shut down. The explosion was caused by the failure of a bearing in No. 4 engine. The starboard wing was extensively damaged, the pilot had insufficient aileron power, and both airspeed indications were highly inaccurate. The whole crew successfully abandoned XA909 and was found within a few minutes and rescued.Blackman 2007, p. 157\.
* On 7 October 1964, Vulcan B.2 XM601 crashed during an overshoot from an asymmetric power practice approach at Coningsby. The co\-pilot had executed the asymmetric power approach with two engines producing thrust and two at idle. He was being checked by the squadron commander, who was unfamiliar with the aircraft. When he commenced the overshoot, the copilot moved all the throttles to full power. The engines that had been producing power reached full power more quickly than the engines at idle and the resultant asymmetric thrust exceeded the available rudder authority, causing the aircraft to spin and crash. All the crew perished.Jackson 1990, p. 178\.
* On 25 May 1965, Vulcan B.2 XM576 crash\-landed at [Scampton](/wiki/Scampton "Scampton"), causing it to be written off within a year of delivery.Brookes and Davey 2009, p. 92\.
* On 11 February 1966, Vulcan B.2 XH536 of IX SQN [Cottesmore Wing](/wiki/RAF_Cottesmore "RAF Cottesmore") crashed in the [Brecon Beacons](/wiki/Brecon_Beacons "Brecon Beacons") during a low\-level exercise. The aircraft struck the ground at  near the summit of [Fan Bwlch Chwyth](/wiki/Fan_Bwlch_Chwyth "Fan Bwlch Chwyth") ,  northeast of [Swansea](/wiki/Swansea "Swansea"). All crew members died. Hilltops at the time were snow\-covered and cloud extended down to .
* On 6 April 1967, Vulcan B.2 XL385 burnt out on the runway at RAF Scampton at the beginning of its take\-off run. The aircraft was carrying a Blue Steel missile training round. All the crew, including an [Air Training Corps](/wiki/Air_Training_Corps "Air Training Corps") cadet, escaped unhurt. The aircraft was engulfed in flames and totally destroyed. The accident was caused by the failure of an Olympus 301 HP turbine disc as the engine reached full power.Baxter 1990, p. 66\.
* On 30 January 1968, Vulcan B.2 XM604 crashed following a loss of control during an overshoot at RAF Cottesmore. The rear crew members were killed, though both pilots ejected. The captain ejected at a very late stage and only survived because his deploying parachute was snagged by some power cables. The accident was caused by the failure of an Olympus 301 LP turbine disc after the aircraft had returned to the airfield following indications of a bomb\-bay overheat.
* On 7 January 1971, Vulcan B.2 XM610 of [No.44 Squadron](/wiki/No._44_Squadron_RAF "No. 44 Squadron RAF") crashed due to a blade fatigue failure in the No. 1 engine, damaging the fuel system and causing a fire. The crew abandoned the aircraft safely, after which it crashed harmlessly in [Wingate](/wiki/Wingate%2C_County_Durham "Wingate, County Durham").Blackman 2007, p. 159\.
* On 14 October 1975, [Vulcan B.2 XM645](/wiki/1975_%C5%BBabbar_Avro_Vulcan_crash "1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash") of [No.9 Squadron](/wiki/No._9_Squadron_RAF "No. 9 Squadron RAF") lost its left undercarriage and damaged the airframe when it undershot the runway at [RAF Luqa](/wiki/RAF_Luqa "RAF Luqa") in Malta. The aircraft broke up over the town of [Żabbar](/wiki/%C5%BBabbar "Żabbar") while turning inbound for an emergency landing. The pilot and co\-pilot escaped using their ejection seats, the other five crew members were killed. Large aircraft pieces fell on the town; one woman, Vincenza Zammit, was killed by an electric cable, and some 20 others were injured.
* On 17 January 1977, Vulcan B.2 XM600 of No. 101 Squadron crashed near Spilsby, Lincolnshire. During a practice emergency descent, the bomb\-bay fire warning light flashed on followed by No.2 engine fire warning light. The captain shut the engine down and the AEO reported flames coming from the area of No.2 engine, just behind the deployed [ram air turbine](/wiki/Ram_air_turbine "Ram air turbine") (RAT). As the fire intensified, the captain ordered the aircraft to be abandoned. The three rear crew members escaped around . After ordering the co\-pilot to eject, the captain ejected at around , as control was lost. The cause was due to arcing on the RAT's electrical terminals, burning a hole in an adjacent fuel pipe and setting the fuel on fire.Blackman 2007, p. 162\.
* On 12 August 1978, Vulcan B.2 XL390 of No. 617 Squadron crashed during an air display at [Naval Air Station Glenview](/wiki/Naval_Air_Station_Glenview "Naval Air Station Glenview"), Illinois, in the United States. The crew had been authorized to carry out a display at Chicago's [Meigs Field](/wiki/Meigs_Field "Meigs Field") airport; the captain had elected to carry out an unauthorized display at Glenview beforehand. After a low\-level run, probably below , the aircraft pulled up for an improperly executed [wingover](/wiki/Wingover "Wingover"), resulting in a low\-level stall and crash, killing all on board.Blackman 2007, p. 153\.
* On 3 June 1982, Vulcan XM597 broke its probe while attempting to refuel in flight, while returning from a mission over the Falkland Islands. With insufficient fuel to reach its base on Ascension Island, the pilot discarded classified information over the Atlantic Ocean and diverted to [Rio de Janeiro](/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro "Rio de Janeiro"). Shortly after entering Brazilian airspace, the [Brazilian Air Force](/wiki/Brazilian_Air_Force "Brazilian Air Force") sent two [Northrop F\-5s](/wiki/Northrop_F-5 "Northrop F-5") to escort it to [Galeão Air Force Base](/wiki/Gale%C3%A3o_Air_Force_Base "Galeão Air Force Base"). This led to high\-level diplomatic talks between the UK and Brazil, which remained neutral during the Falklands War. After seven days of detention, the Vulcan and its crew were allowed to return home on the condition that XM597 play no further part in the conflict.
* On 28 May 2012, Vulcan B.2 XH558 suffered a failure of the two port engines while starting a take\-off roll from [Robin Hood Airport](/wiki/Robin_Hood_Airport "Robin Hood Airport"), Doncaster. Bags of [silica gel](/wiki/Silica_gel "Silica gel") desiccant had been inadvertently left in the air intake after maintenance. Less than a second after increasing power from 80% to 100%, these were ingested by one of the port engines, immediately destroying it. The remaining port engine ingested debris from the first engine, destroying this one, as well. The fire\-prevention systems proved effective, neither the airframe nor control systems suffered damage. The pilot had no difficulty bringing the aircraft to a safe stop, having remained on the ground throughout. On 3 July 2012, XH558 returned to flight.

What are some potential solutions to address network problems like the one described by the author?