DefenseHydraulic Failure Behind 2022 B-2 Bomber Crash, US Air Force Concludes
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has concluded its investigation into the crash of a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber that took place in December 2022. The findings identified a failure in a hydraulic coupling in the aircraft’s right main landing gear as the root cause of the incident.
The failure led to a loss of hydraulic pressure, disabling critical flight control systems and landing gear mechanisms. As a result, the crew was forced to perform an emergency landing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
Upon landing, the bomber (90-0041) veered off the runway and caught fire, causing extensive structural damage. Although both crew members exited safely, the aircraft was deemed a total loss.
The report emphasized that the failure stemmed from wear and deterioration of the hydraulic component, a vulnerability heightened by the aircraft’s complex systems and limited production. The incident underscores the logistical and technical challenges of operating a small, high-tech bomber fleet.
As a result of the findings, the Air Force recommended enhanced maintenance procedures and preventive inspections of similar hydraulic systems across the remaining fleet.
Given that only 21 B-2s were ever built, and the fleet already operates with tight availability constraints, the crash significantly impacted operational readiness. The Air Force temporarily grounded all B-2s for technical inspections and implemented a corrective maintenance program.
The 2022 loss followed the 2008 crash that destroyed a B-2 on the Pacific island of Guam. The USAF currently operates 18 bombers while maintaining an aerostructure on the ground for testing.
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