The Pentagon suspended flights of the F-35B, the Marine Corps model of the joint strike fighter, after a propulsion-system part failed and caused a pilot to abort a takeoff.
"We are assessing potential causes and evaluating actions to return" to flight, Pentagon spokesman Joe DellaVedova said Friday.The Marine Corps model, designed for short takeoffs and landings on carriers and amphibious-warfare vessels, is the most complex of three models being built by Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth.The failure was in the propulsion system, made by Pratt & Whitney.It occurred before takeoff Jan. 16 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida."The pilot aborted takeoff without incident and cleared the active runway," DellaVedova said.Development of the F-35 has been marked by delays and cost increases. The Pentagon's $395.7 billion estimate for developing and producing 2,443 fighters is 70 percent more than when the initial contract was signed in 2001.The incident involved a propulsion fueldraulic line, which saves weight by using jet fuel instead of the customary hydraulic fluid to lubricate mechanical parts."An initial inspection discovered a detached fueldraulic line in the aft portion of the engine compartment," said Matthew Bates, a spokesman for Pratt & Whitney, said in a statement.DellaVedova said, "it is the first time we've experienced an event with the propulsion fueldraulic line."The affected component isn't used on the Navy or Air Force versions, he said.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
