WHAT HAPPENED
In its update on Wednesday, MINDEF reported that the online flight control computer received “erroneous but comparable inputs” from two of the aircraft’s pitch rate gyroscopes.
The two accelerometers had been found to have deteriorated as a result of wear and tear and had failed during take-off.  ,
Former Republic of Singapore Air Force ( RSAF ) pilot Ong Swee Chuan previously told CNA , that , at any one time, three out of four of them are used and the average of two is taken to provide data to the flight control computer,  ,
With two gyroscopes registering false sources that were identical, the journey control logic “accepted” them as” right” while rejecting the input from each of the remaining functioning thrusters as “incorrect”, said MINDEF.
The electronic flight control computer was forced to manoeuvre the F-16 in response to the false pitch rate feedback from the two damaged gyroscopes, according to the statement.
NO ACCIDENTALITY IS RECORDED BEFORE TAKE-OFF.
The research, which , was led by the RSAF and supported by Lockheed Martin and the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau, even concluded that the F- 16 plane was maintained according to established practices.
The RSAF had adhered to needed repair checks, said MINDEF, noting that , F- 16’s thrusters are the same as those used by other F- 16 users around the world.
” Lockheed Martin does not specify any proactive maintenance for these thrusters”, it added. When a problem is discovered, the thrusters are to be replaced.