Overview

• The PACAF Accident Investigation Board released its report this week, confirming water‑contaminated hydraulic fluid that froze in landing‑gear struts as the cause of the $196.5–$197 million loss.
• Ice in the struts produced false Weight-on-Wheels signals that switched the F-35 into ground control laws in flight, leaving it uncontrollable; the pilot ejected safely with minor injuries.
• Investigators found the servicing barrel and cart were contaminated, with roughly one-third water in recovered strut fluid and significant lapses in hazardous-material oversight and maintenance documentation.
• The pilot held a roughly 50-minute airborne conference call with Lockheed Martin engineers and attempted two touch-and-goes, decisions the board said contributed to the mishap given prior cold-weather guidance on sensor anomalies.
• A similar nose-gear issue occurred nine days later on another Eielson F-35A, and ground tests again pointed to frozen contaminated fluid, though that aircraft landed safely.