Four killed as USAF CV-22 crashes in Afghanistan

Flight Global ^ | April 9, 2010 | Craig Hoyle

[Yo-Yo]

Three US service personnel and one civilian were killed when a US Air Force Bell Boeing CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor crashed in southern Afghanistan’s Zabul Province on 8 April.

“Numerous other service members” were also injured in the mishap, according to a statement from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. “The cause of the crash is unknown at this time,” it says.

The incident, which happened near Qalat City, represents the first crash to have involved an operational version of the V-22, which is also used by the US Marine Corps in the MV configuration. The Osprey programme suffered three fatal accidents prior to the hybrid aircraft entering frontline use.

The USAF uses the CV-22 to conduct long-range infiltration and resupply missions in Afghanistan. Its Special Operations Command received its first operational example in 2006, and had fielded 14 prior to the 8 April accident, as listed in Flightglobal’s HeliCAS database.

[Yo-Yo]

First operational loss of an Osprey.

© Dennis Rogers/US Air Force

[Never on my watch]

So sad to hear, prayers for the families.

[databoss]

I’m a pilot and this thing scares me...all respect to the fallen...

[blueyon]

Prayers

[valkyry1]

There are so many modes of aerodynamics that a V-22 can fall out of the sky in its hard to even venture a guess what brought this one down.

[momincombatboots]

Thanks for posting. Waiting to hear about this from boots on the ground.

[Never on my watch]

I’m a pilot and this thing scares me...

I've heard that from some of the pilots I work with.

[Condor51]

*** First operational loss of an Osprey. ***

And it won't be the last.

[Leisler]

18 plus billion dollars(+), and the Marine Corps went to war with not one single MRAP, and didn’t get them for years.

[B-Chan]

Any a/c crash is a tragedy, but why focus on the *V-22? Do you folks know how many Sh*thooks have augered in over the years? The CH-46, for example. is a flying deathtrap; Google “Chinook” and “crashes” and prepare yourselves for a shock.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

That thing is kind of spookey, has all the aero of a dinner plate.

[Recon Dad]

I'm guessing that this is the first Osprey to go down while in a combat situation?
Would anyone think there would be any difference between USMC and AF Tactical usage or maintenance programs?

[TSgt]

Any a/c crash is a tragedy, but why focus on the *V-22? Do you folks know how many Sh*thooks have augered in over the years? The CH-46, for example. is a flying deathtrap; Google “Chinook” and “crashes” and prepare yourselves for a shock.

Google Fail

Many more CH-46's have been built than V-22's yet the accident rate is higher for the V-22's. As pointed out by other FReepers there are many modes where this thing can fall out of the sky.

[missnry]

but why focus on the *V-22?

Because they cannot think for themselves. They believe the media hype leftovers from the testing phase of this aircraft.

A shoulder launch weapon hitting any aircraft usually has detrimental effects.

[Lurking in Kansas]

RIP, heros.

[sonofagun]

As pointed out by other FReepers there are many modes where this thing can fall out of the sky.

As with any high performance aircraft. Different aircraft, different characteristics.

The Osprey pilots seem to like them.

[Lurking in Kansas]

RIP, heros.*

*heroes

(need more coffee)

[roaddog727]

Prayers to the families and the injured.

[elcid1970]

When you say “Chinook”, do you mean the Navy CH-46 or the Army CH-47?

I’m familiar with CH-47 crashes. My very first mission in Vietnam was to evac the bodies from a Chinook crash site. They had been on their way to Vung Tau for in-country R&R. Thirty two lost. After that, R&R pax didn’t get moved in anything larger than a UH-1H.

Must be something to CH-47 mishaps. A few years ago, the Army Reserve tried to recruit me to fly Chinooks. I was already fifty-five and hadn’t flown since 1986. Doesn’t matter, just pass a flight physical and we’ll slot you.

I declined. “There are old pilots and bold pilots....”

[Abathar]

I’m hoping they installed a black box on these things that will tell them detailed info on every piece of this aircraft, there are so may different modes it goes through while in flight they will need all the data they can get.