Editing Northrop B-2 Spirit (section)

==Accidents and incidents==
[[File:Crashed B-2.jpg|thumb|Wreckage of the [[2008 Andersen Air Force Base B-2 accident|2008 B-2 crash]]|upright=1.2]]

On 23 February 2008, B-2 "AV-12" ''Spirit of Kansas'' [[2008 Andersen Air Force Base B-2 accident|crashed on the runway]] shortly after takeoff from [[Andersen Air Force Base]] in [[Guam]].<ref name=Av_Week_crash>[https://archive.today/20130117211217/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/b2crsh02238.xml "B-2 Crashes on Takeoff From Guam."] ''Aviation Week'', 23 February 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.</ref> ''Spirit of Kansas'' had been operated by the [[393rd Bomb Squadron]], [[509th Bomb Wing]], [[Whiteman Air Force Base]], Missouri, and had logged 5,176 flight hours. The two-person crew ejected safely from the aircraft. The aircraft was destroyed, a [[hull loss]] valued at US$1.4&nbsp;billion.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-05-371843035_x.htm "Air Force: Sensor moisture caused 1st B-2 crash."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604131825/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-05-371843035_x.htm |date=4 June 2011}} ''USA Today'', 5 June 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2009.</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZB-iziY2Bw "B-2 crash video."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204000528/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZB-iziY2Bw&feature=related |date=4 February 2017}} YouTube. Retrieved 23 July 2009.</ref> After the accident, the USAF took the B-2 fleet off operational status for 53 days, returning on 15 April 2008.<ref>Linch, Airman 1st Class Stephen. [https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123095213/ "B-2s return to flight after safety pause."] ''US Air Force'', 21 April 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2010.</ref> The cause of the crash was later determined to be moisture in the aircraft's Port Transducer Units during air data calibration, which distorted the information being sent to the bomber's air data system. As a result, the flight control computers calculated an inaccurate airspeed, and a negative angle of attack, causing the aircraft to pitch upward 30 degrees during takeoff.<ref>[http://www.acc.af.mil/media/archives/story.asp?id=123101589 "B-2 accident report released."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005025858/http://www.acc.af.mil/media/archives/story.asp?id=123101589 |date=5 October 2013}} ''US Air Force'', 6 June 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2011.</ref> This was the first crash and loss of a B-2.

In February 2010, a serious incident involving a B-2 occurred at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The aircraft involved was AV-11 ''Spirit of Washington''. The aircraft was severely damaged by fire while on the ground and underwent 18 months of repairs to enable it to fly back to the mainland U.S. for more comprehensive repairs.<ref name="pacificnewscenter.com">jeremigio. [https://www.pncguam.com/wright-patterseon/ "B-2 Fire at AAFB Back in February of 2010 Was 'Horrific,' Not 'Minor'."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022174614/https://www.pncguam.com/wright-patterseon/ |date=22 October 2020}} ''pncguam.com'', 31 August 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2020.</ref><ref>Mayer, Daryl. [https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/story/id/123269146/ "Program office brings home 'wounded warrior'."]  ''wpafb.af.mil.'' Retrieved: 5 January 2012.</ref> ''Spirit of Washington'' was repaired and returned to service in December 2013.<ref name="whitemanmil">{{cite web |author=Candy Knight |url=https://www.whiteman.af.mil/News/story/id/123375147/ |title="Spirit of Washington" rises from the ashes |publisher=Whiteman.af.mil |access-date=21 December 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114456/http://www.whiteman.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123375147 |archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref><ref>Hennigan, W. J., "The $105M resurrection of a B-2 stealth bomber", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 22 March 2014</ref> At the time of the accident, the USAF had no training to deal with tailpipe fires on the B-2s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-updates-firefighter-training-and-equipment-following-b-2-tailpipe-397472/ |title=USAF updates firefighter training and equipment following B-2 tailpipe fire |last1=Hemmerdinger |first1=Jon |date=27 March 2014 |website=FlightGlobal |access-date=27 March 2014 |archive-date=14 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214154655/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-updates-firefighter-training-and-equipment-following-b-2-tailpipe-397472/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

On the night of 13–14 September 2021, B-2 ''Spirit of Georgia'' made an emergency landing at Whiteman AFB. The aircraft landed and [[runway excursion|went off the runway]] into the grass and came to rest on its left side.<ref name="crash2021">{{cite web |last= |first= |date=September 2021 |title=B-2 Spirit sitting wing down after landing mishap |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42392/damaged-b-2-spirit-is-sitting-wing-down-off-the-runway-after-landing-mishap |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814204852/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42392/damaged-b-2-spirit-is-sitting-wing-down-off-the-runway-after-landing-mishap |archive-date=14 August 2022 |publisher=The War Zone}}</ref> The cause was later determined to be faulty landing gear springs and "microcracking" in hydraulic connections on the aircraft. The lock link springs in the left landing gear had likely not been replaced in at least a decade, and produced about 11% less tension than specified. The "microcracking" reduced hydraulic support to the landing gear. These problems allowed the landing gear to fold upon landing. The accident resulted in a minimum of $10.1&nbsp;million in repair damages, but the final repair cost was still being determined in March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=RIEDEL |first=ALEXANDER |date=March 18, 2022 |title=Faulty landing gear springs led to B-2 bomber crash last year, report finds |url=https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2022-03-18/decade-old-landing-gear-springs-led-to-b2-crash-landing-5386748.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=Stars and Stripes |language=en |archive-date=12 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212075639/https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2022-03-18/decade-old-landing-gear-springs-led-to-b2-crash-landing-5386748.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cocke |first=Robert P.M. |date=January 12, 2022 |title=United States Air Force / Abbreviated Aircraft Accident Investigation / B-2A, T/N 89-0129 / Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri / 14 September 2021 |url=https://www.afjag.af.mil/Portals/77/AIB-Reports/2021/AAIB%20Report%20-%20B-2%20Mishap%20TN%2089-0129%20-%20FINAL.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317215755/https://www.afjag.af.mil/Portals/77/AIB-Reports/2021/AAIB%20Report%20-%20B-2%20Mishap%20TN%2089-0129%20-%20FINAL.pdf |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps}}</ref>

On 10 December 2022, an in-flight malfunction aboard a B-2 forced an emergency landing at Whiteman AFB.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helfrich |first=Emma |date=2022-12-12 |title=Runway At Whiteman AFB Remains Closed After B-2 Bomber Accident |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/runway-at-whiteman-afb-remains-closed-after-b-2-bomber-accident |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=The Drive |language=en |archive-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213025316/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/runway-at-whiteman-afb-remains-closed-after-b-2-bomber-accident |url-status=live}}</ref> No personnel, including the flight crew, sustained injuries during the incident; there was a post-crash fire that was quickly put out.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Jake |title=A B-2 stealth bomber's emergency landing sparked a fire and damaged the plane, but the crew walked away unharmed |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/b-2-stealth-bomber-damaged-emergency-landing-fire-crew-unharmed-2022-12 |access-date=2022-12-17 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=17 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217042846/https://www.businessinsider.com/b-2-stealth-bomber-damaged-emergency-landing-fire-crew-unharmed-2022-12 |url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently, all B-2s were grounded.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/21/politics/air-force-b2-bomber-grounded/index.html | title=B-2 nuke bomber fleet is temporarily grounded due to safety issue &#124; CNN Politics | website=[[CNN]] | date=21 December 2022 | access-date=22 December 2022 | archive-date=22 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222053248/https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/21/politics/air-force-b2-bomber-grounded/index.html | url-status=live}}</ref> On 18 May 2023, Air Force officials lifted the grounding without disclosing any details about what caused the incident, or what steps had been taken return the aircraft to operation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Chris |date=2023-05-18 |title=B-2 Safety Pause Lifted, Flights Set to Resume Within Days |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/b-2-safety-pause-lifted-flights-resume/ |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Air And Space Forces Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=23 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523023257/https://www.airandspaceforces.com/b-2-safety-pause-lifted-flights-resume/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2024, the Air Force announced the B-2 would be divested, as it had been deemed to be "uneconomical to repair." Although no cost estimate was provided, the decision was likely influenced by the coming introduction of the B-21 bomber; after the B-2 crash in 2010, it took almost four years and over $100 million to return the aircraft to service because not losing one of the few penetrating bombers in the inventory was considered necessary to justify the effort. However, the impending arrival of the B-21 and coming retirement of the B-2 sometime after 2029 likely made USAF leaders decide it wouldn't be worth the expense to repair it, only for it to soon be retired.<ref name="airforcemag13may24"/><ref>[https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2024/05/b-2-crashed-2022-wont-be-fixed-air-force-confirms/396519/ B-2 that caught fire in 2022 won’t be fixed, Air Force confirms]. ''Defense One''. 13 May 2024.</ref>{{failed verification|date=May 2024}}