SOURCE: AFI
A new video has surfaced showing the Indian Air Force’s MiG-29UPG moments before it crashed yesterday near Agra. The video footage reveals the aircraft in a precarious flat spin just seconds before impact. Fortunately, the pilot managed to eject safely and escape with minimal injuries. The incident has prompted an in-depth investigation by the IAF and expert analysis to understand the exact causes behind the mishap.
After a preliminary review of the video by the team at IDRW.org and other aviation experts, three key factors have been identified that might explain the crash:
The footage suggests a possible loss of power in one or both engines, a critical issue for an aircraft that relies on thrust to maintain control and stability. In the case of a twin-engine jet like the MiG-29, an asymmetrical power loss can lead to difficulties in maintaining direction and altitude. A sudden engine failure or power loss could cause the aircraft to lose the thrust needed to maintain forward speed, leading to a rapid loss of control.
In the moments leading up to the pilot’s ejection, the MiG-29 appears to have slowed down significantly, losing forward speed. This may be due to the engine power loss or a sudden aerodynamic stall, both of which can critically affect an aircraft’s control surfaces. The video also shows the aircraft’s nose pointed slightly upward before the ejection, which suggests that the pilot may have attempted to counterbalance the lack of thrust by adjusting the nose trim, ultimately leading to a stall.
After losing forward momentum and lift, the MiG-29 entered a flat spin, a particularly dangerous flight condition where the aircraft loses all forward and lateral control. Flat spins are challenging to recover from, especially at lower altitudes, due to the lack of aerodynamic control over the aircraft’s attitude and direction. The MiG-29, like many high-performance jets, is susceptible to flat spins if control is lost under specific conditions, as it has high maneuverability but can experience stability issues if thrust is compromised.
Common Factors Leading to Flat Spins in MiG-29 Aircraft
The MiG-29’s aerodynamic profile and twin-engine design make it a powerful yet complex platform to operate. Here are some additional factors that can potentially contribute to flat spins in MiG-29s:
High Center of Gravity: MiG-29s have a relatively high center of gravity, which makes them agile but more prone to instability in certain maneuvers. Combined with engine issues, this could result in the sudden onset of a spin.
Engine Issues or Mechanical Failure: The MiG-29’s engines, although reliable, have occasionally faced issues in older models, especially when maintenance issues arise. Power asymmetry due to engine failure can disrupt stability, a known risk in twin-engine fighters.
Aerodynamic Stall: A stall occurs when the aircraft’s angle of attack exceeds the critical point at which lift can no longer be sustained. This is particularly hazardous at low speeds or during maneuvers that push the aircraft close to its limits. In the MiG-29, an aerodynamic stall without sufficient altitude for recovery can easily lead to a flat spin.
Pilot Control Inputs: In high-stress scenarios, pilots may try to compensate for unexpected issues by adjusting the aircraft’s pitch, yaw, or roll. In this instance, if the pilot was attempting to recover from the spin, rapid control inputs might have compounded the instability, especially if power was asymmetric across the engines.
While the MiG-29 has been a reliable workhorse for the IAF, incidents like this highlight the importance of consistent maintenance and training to manage the unique challenges posed by high-performance fighters. Measures to address known issues related to engine reliability and spin recovery procedures will likely be a focus of IAF safety reviews moving forward.