Air Force writes off $115m gunship after pilot flies it UPSIDE DOWN

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Pilots were testing on brand new AC-130J gunship when they lost control
During 'sideslip' maneuver the aircraft fell 5,000ft before turning over
Pilot managed to get plane back under control with no injuries to the crew
However, the aircraft had to be destroyed after violating 'stress limits'

Published: 15:24 EST, 20 November 2015 | Updated: 19:05 EST, 20 November 2015

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The Air Force has been forced to write off a brand new $115million gunship after a pilot accidentally flew it upside down, according to a report.

The AC-130J Ghostrider gunship was taking part in a training mission over the Gulf of Mexico in April this year having taken off from Elgin Air Force Base, officials said.

The pilot, from 413th Flight Test Squadron, was taking part in a 'sideslip' maneuver when he lost control of the 132ft-wide aircraft before it turned upside down.

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Air Force test pilots were flying a brand new AC-130J gunship (pictured) over the Gulf of Mexico back in April when the pilot lost control during a 'sideslip' maneuver and managed to turn the aircraft upside down

Despite plunging 5,000ft, the pilot was able to get control of the aircraft back without inuring any of the crew and returned to base where the plane landed safely

A 'sideslip' maneuver, according to Langley Flying School, involves dipping one wing while pushing the rudder in the opposite direction causing an aircraft to turn sideways while continuing along the same heading.

It is typically used by pilots when trying to land in a heavy crosswind, and can often be seen in use at commercial airports by pilots trying to land in windy weather.

A similar maneuver, the forward slip, is also used when pilots need to rapidly lose altitude.

An Air Force Materiel Command report, released earlier this month and seen by CNN, says: 'The aircraft exceeded the targeted angle of sideslip until it departed controlled flight and momentarily inverted before being recovered after losing approximately 5,000 feet of altitude.'

Fortunately no crew were hurt, and the error happened at around 15,000ft, meaning pilots managed to get control of the aircraft again at 10,000ft, so it was not in danger of crashing.

However, the AC-130J was never intended to be flown upside down, and so the maneuver cause the aircraft to 'over-G'.

In simple terms, that means the aircraft was put under strain that it was never meant to endure, exceeding the manufacturer's stress limits.

However, the entire aircraft had to be written off because turning it upside down violated 'stress limits' placed on the wings. Any craft that violates these limits cannot be considered airworthy

The incident, which happened at Fort Elgin Air Force Base, in Florida, is thought to have cost the Air Force a total of $115million and was blamed largely on pilot error

Because of that, the plane cannot be considered airworthy, and must be scrapped at an estimated cost of $115million.

Investigators largely blamed pilot error for the incident, saying there had been the 'wrong choice of action during an operation'.

However, their report also found 'instrument and warning systems issues, and poor procedural guidance and publications for the test team to follow'.

The AC-130J is the latest version of the Hercules aircraft to be specially modified as a gunship, and is destined for use by Air Force Special Operations Command.

It will replace the current AC-130U aircraft in use by AFSOC and is designed to carry more guided bombs than previous versions, which relied heavily on Howitzer-style cannons mounted on the side.

The AFSOC only took delivery of the first AC-130Js in earlier this year, and has been carrying out tests on them ever since, before the first are due to enter active service in 2017.

They will then be introduced over several years, and the service plans to have an operational fleet of 32 AC-130J aircraft by 2021.