Military

On February 10, 2004, 30 U.S. Air Force C-130E model aircraft were ordered grounded by Air Mobility Command (AMC) Commander Gen. John W. Handy.  An additional 60 C-130 aircraft, including some of the E, H, H1, and HC-130 N/P models were placed on restricted flight status to minimize wing stress and increase the safety margin.

An Air Force release stated that the 30 C-130E aircraft were grounded based upon a recommendation by the C-130 System Program Office at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. Since 2001, a series of inspections of the center wing box structure of C-130 has revealed cracks to the structure that were greater in number and severity than originally expected.

Most of the aircraft affected are in AMC's inventory, but affected aircraft are also assigned to Air Education and Training Command, Pacific Air Forces, US Air Forces in Europe, the Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command.

The End