How a Single Failed Part Caused a B-2 Stealth Bomber to Crash and Burn

How a Single Failed Part Caused a B-2 Stealth Bomber to Crash and Burn

PUBLISHED on August 6, 2025, 19:55 EST – Key Points and Summary – A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber was severely damaged in a 2022 crash landing at Whiteman Air Force Base, an accident that ultimately reduced the operational fleet to just 19 aircraft. An investigation revealed the failure of a single hydraulic fitting on the right landing gear caused the crash. This triggered a chain of events where a misleading safety indication led to the collapse o…

Design flaw blamed for destruction of B-2 stealth bomber

A recently released US Air Force investigation has revealed how a cascading chain of mechanical and design failures led to the partial collapse of a Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit stealth bomber during landing at Whiteman Air Force Base in December 2022.   The incident resulted in over $300 million in aircraft damage, caused $27,500 worth of damage to the runway, and temporarily grounded the entire fleet. Consequently, the runway at Whiteman AFB w…

Hydraulic 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… The post Hydraulic Failure Behind 2022 B-2 Bomber Crash, US Air Force Concludes appeared first on Air Data News.

Failed hydraulic coupling led to B-2 bomber crash

A faulty hydraulic fitting led to the catastrophic loss of a B-2 Spirit bomber in December 2022, reducing the US Air Force’s operational stealth bomber fleet to just 18 aircraft.

Hydraulic Failure Led to Fire That Destroyed B-2

A hydraulic system failure is to blame for the December 2022 accident that sparked the fire that torched a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber beyond repair at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., the Air Force said in an accident investigation board report published Aug. 5. The hydraulic failure led the bomber’s left main landing gear to collapse, causing the “Spirit of Hawaii” to skid off the runway and catch fire, the report found. No one was hurt in the acc…

Hydraulic Fitting Failure Led to B-2 Gear Collapse, Wing Fire and $300M Damage at Whiteman AFB in 2022

Investigators say a hydraulic fitting failure set off the 2022 B-2 incident at Whiteman AFB, ending in a gear collapse, wing fire and $300M repair bill. The U.S. Air Force has released the Accident Investigation Board (AIB) report into the B-2A Spirit mishap at Whiteman AFB on Dec. 10, 2022, providing a detailed, technical reconstruction […] The post Hydraulic Fitting Failure Led to B-2 Gear Collapse, Wing Fire and $300M Damage at Whiteman AFB i…