The crash of an Air Force Osprey aircraft in Japan that killed all eight airmen on board was caused by a catastrophic failure of one of the aircraft’s proprotor gearboxes, according to a U.S. military investigation released Thursday. The investigation found that the pilot did not respond with sufficient urgency to electronic warnings in the cockpit. This crash was the fourth in a series of fatal Osprey crashes in the past two-and-a-half years, resulting in the deaths of 20 service members.
The investigation concluded that a gear failure led to metal chips in the proprotor gearbox, and the root cause is still under review by engineers. A lack of sharing safety assessments among the three services that fly the Osprey contributed to the mishap. Families of the deceased are frustrated by a lack of answers and ongoing investigations. There are also concerns about clutch failures in the Osprey fleet.
Some safety reports have highlighted issues with the Osprey gearbox, but confidentiality restrictions have limited the sharing of information. The military has implemented procedures for immediate landing if metal chip warnings are received to prevent similar incidents in the future. The specific cause of the Japan crash was due to the proprotor gearbox failure, which could not have been prevented by the crew.
The House Oversight Committee has requested safety reports to determine if there are common causes in the recent crashes. Families of victims are calling for more transparency and accountability in the investigation process. The Osprey fleet has returned to limited service, but concerns remain regarding the safety of the aircraft.
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