2 fatal V-22 Osprey crashes in 2 years linked to metal weak spots in gearboxes, killing 8 in November.
Investigations suggest weak spots in metal used to manufacture V-22 Osprey's gears may have contributed to the fatal crash off Japan in November, killing eight Air Force Special Operations Command members. The crash was the second catastrophic failure of the Osprey's propeller gearbox in less than two years. Investigators found multiple inclusions, or microscopic weak spots in metal, in the failed pinion gears and a second pinion gear on the aircraft. The Osprey, which can fly like an airplane and land like a helicopter, has experienced issues with its proprotor gearbox, with 60 incidents reported over the past five years.
August 11, 2024
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