“3/7/2012 – LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. — An Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board could not determine a clear cause of the crash of an EQ-4B Global Hawk Aug. 20, 2011, northwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan, according to the board’s report released today.
According to the report, a substantially contributing factor in the crash, was the failure of a single Line Replaceable Unit. Specifically, a partial separation of a connector led to interruption of electrical power to aileron and spoiler flight control actuators, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable. The loss of electrical power also caused the aircraft to lose its satellite link with the controlling ground station. The pilot responded with appropriate lost link procedures; however, efforts to establish control of the aircraft were unsuccessful.
As a result, the aircraft impacted remote desert terrain and was destroyed. There were no injuries or damage to Afghan government or private property. The loss of the aircraft is valued at approximately $72.8 million.” http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123292885