Accidental ejection seat activation kills three.

Discussion running at 'new' TBO suggests supposed 'zero/zero' system failed as canopy not discarded correctly, impairing seat exit.

( 'That's gonna hurt...')

They've no Tu-22M3 expert, so merely surmise: In fact, would this be plausible explanation ??.
 
Nik said:
Discussion running at 'new' TBO suggests supposed 'zero/zero' system failed as canopy not discarded correctly, impairing seat exit.

( 'That's gonna hurt...')

They've no Tu-22M3 expert, so merely surmise: In fact, would this be plausible explanation ??.
Click to expand...

The version seen on a Russian site (and reposted by the Aviationist) says that the seats are not truly zero-zero and require somewhere between 130-140 kph of forward speed for safe deployment at zero altitude. Activated when stationary, they didn't have sufficient speed/altitude for the parachutes to fill before the seats hit the ground. The fourth crewmember was apparently not ejected, which fits the "forced ejection" scheme where the commander can fire the other three seats, then see himself out after the crew are gone. A short circuit in that system could eject three crewmembers and leave the pilot in the commander's seat with some burn injuries from having the other seats go off around him.

theaviationist.com

[Updated] Ejection Seats Activation During Preflight Operations On Russian Tu-22M3 Bomber Kills Three Crew Members

The incident occurred as the Russian Air Force Tu-22M3 prepared for a mission at Shaikovka airfield, near Kaluga, Russia. Three crew members perished in
theaviationist.com theaviationist.com
 
Nik said:
Discussion running at 'new' TBO suggests supposed 'zero/zero' system failed as canopy not discarded correctly, impairing seat exit.

( 'That's gonna hurt...')

They've no Tu-22M3 expert, so merely surmise: In fact, would this be plausible explanation ??.
Click to expand...
A pity they didn't put K-36 into that bomber.

In the words of John Young after he watched a Gemini ejection seat with a dummy going VERY badly

"That's one hell of a headache, but a short one"
 

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