Posted on 12/07/2023 7:11:32 AM PST by Yo-Yo
The grounding of all Osprey tilt-rotors follows a fatal crash off the coast of a Japanese island that may be tied to a “materiel failure.”
The U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have all now grounded their respective V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor fleets. This follows a fatal crash involving an Air Force CV-22B off the coast of Japan's Yakushima Island on November 29. An investigation into the accident is still ongoing, but has found evidence already that a "materiel failure" may have been the root cause.
The CV-22B, which was using the callsign Gundam 22 at the time, was conducting a routine training mission when it went down. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has declared all eight individuals who were onboard the Osprey, which was assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing's 21st Special Operations Squadron based at Yokota Air Base in Japan, to be deceased. However, the remains of only six individuals have been recovered so far. Efforts to recover the other two still unaccounted-for individuals, as well as the wreckage, are continuing.
The Japan Self-Defense Forces, the only current foreign Osprey operator, also grounded its MV-22Bs last week in the wake of the mishap and had called on the U.S. military to do the same.
"Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, AFSOC Commander, directed an operational standdown of the Air Force CV-22 fleet [on] December 6, 2023 to mitigate risk while the investigation continues on the November 29, 2023 CV-22 mishap near Yakushima, Japan," according to press release Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) put out this evening. "Preliminary investigation information indicates a potential materiel failure caused the mishap, but the underlying cause of the failure is unknown at this time."
"The standdown will provide time and space for a thorough investigation to determine causal factors and recommendations to ensure the Air Force CV-22 fleet returns to flight operations," the press release adds. "We extend sincere gratitude to the Joint Force and Government of Japan’s Self-Defense Force, Coast Guard, law enforcement and civilian volunteers for their tireless assistance in the search and rescue operations for our Air Commandos."
Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), which oversees the Navy and Marine Corps respective CMV-22B and MV-22B fleets, put out a separate press release regarding the grounding of those aircraft.
"Out of an abundance of caution, following the AFSOC operational stand down, NAVAIR is instituting a grounding bulletin for all V-22 Osprey variants Dec. 6," according to NAVAIR. "This decision comes after the V-22 Osprey mishap on Nov. 29, off the shore of Yakushima, Japan. Preliminary investigation information indicates a potential materiel failure caused the mishap, but the underlying cause of the failure is unknown at this time."
"While the mishap remains under investigation, we are implementing additional risk mitigation controls to ensure the safety of our service members," the NAVAIR release continued. "The Joint Program Office continues to communicate and collaborate with all V-22 stakeholders and customers, including allied partners."
"We can’t say for sure right now," a spokesperson for AFSOC separately told The War Zone when asked for further details about the possible materiel issue. "The mishap investigation will collect data to ensure a thorough investigation and appropriate recommendations."
"We will share additional information as it becomes available to us," NAVAIR also said in response to our queries for additional information.
This is the third grounding of at least a portion of Osprey fleets worldwide in the past 16 months or so. The Air Force grounded its CV-22Bs in August 2022 after one of the aircraft made an emergency landing in Norway. There were thankfully no injuries as a result of that mishap, which was traced to an issue with a hard clutch on the Osprey.
In February of this year, the Air Force, as well as the Navy and the Marines, grounded some of their Ospreys again over the hard clutch issue. There is no indication one way or another that the clutch was a factor in the November 29 crash.
Ospreys have suffered a number of serious accidents, many of which have been fatal and some that have been linked to other materiel issues, since the aircraft first flew in 1989. There have been three fatal Marine MV-22B crashes just since March 2022. The March 2022 crash was subsequently determined to have been caused by pilot error, while a crash that followed in June of last year was attributed to the hard clutch problem. The most recent Marine Osprey mishap, which occurred in Australia in August, remains under investigation.
The latest grounding is a particularly significant issue for the Marine Corps. The service is, by far, the largest operator of Ospreys and they are a key component of its day-to-day operations.
It remains to be seen now what the investigation into the CV-22B crash last week will conclude about the circumstances of that mishap, and when the current grounding will be lifted.
We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
“Only because you can buy 20 Blackhawk helicopters for every V22.”
A few V22s might be able to offer a military advantage that makes it worth that much. Or that was true when the aircraft was put into service. Now, with all sorts of unmanned aircraft, it might no longer be true.
I can see where the V22 would be a more complex thing to keep stable, and more complex in general than a helicopter.
One of my best friends and my college roommate was a Phrog driver in the Marine Corps for 12 years starting around 1998 or so until 2010. So they were still around for a long time after the Ospreys came along. He did a couple tours in Iraq with the “Battle Phrog”.
...and have to find the crews to man them.
The military took delivery of 742 B-52s but only 21 B-2s. Given the choice, the DoD prefers equipment costs over manpower costs.
Every Navy SEAL sighs a breath of relief. 😏
When the Marines and Air Force first acquired the Osprey, the engines were bought with a "power by the hour" maintenance contract from Rolls-Royce. The government paid a flat rate per flight hour, and Rolls-Royce was responsible for all engine maintenance.
Rolls-Royce lost their shirts early on with this deal, as the Liberty engine was failing at a much faster rate than predicted in Afghanistan and Iraq. But that incentivized Rolls to upgrade and improve the engine reliability. Something they wouldn't necessarily have done so aggressively had the Power by the Hour contract not been in place, and they were just selling spare parts to the Marine Corps.
It might stun you to learn that the U.S. Army just chose the Bell V-280 Valor as the next generation replacement for the UH-60 Blackhawk.
THe ‘experts’ strike again
Replacing the Greyhound gives you a much shorter legged plane that is far more dangerous and complex. The Greyhound has had 8 crashes since 1964. The Osprey has doubled that in a third of the time. God only knows how much worse it would be if they did it by flight hours.
The same can be said for any two rotor helicopter like the now retired CH-46 and the much larger CH-47. Both have synchronizing gearboxes for the two rotors and the twin engines. You lose that synchronization, you're done. No autorotation when the two rotor assemblies become uncoupled.
And a plane with less cargo capacity than the Greyhound.
But the Greyhound couldn't ferry the F135 engine without dismantling it into two sections.
https://www.aviationtoday.com/2018/04/18/f-35cs-cant-receive-spare-engines-carriers-without-v-22s/
For better or worse (I'm with you, it's worse) the Navy chose the CMV-22B largely because it could deliver the F135.
Shouldn't it be compared to other aircraft that do a similar job instead of supersonic fighter jets? ie) Chinooks and Stallions?
“It might stun you to learn that the U.S. Army just chose the Bell V-280 Valor”
I’m too ignorant of military aircraft to be stunned but wow, good one for Bell.
From Wikipedia on the V-280:
“In one major difference from the earlier V-22 Osprey tiltrotor, the V-280 engines remain in place while the rotors and drive shafts tilt. A driveshaft runs through the straight wing, allowing both prop rotors to be driven by a single engine in the event of engine loss.”
Wikipedia refers to “Bell V-280 Valor”, and it refers to the “Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey.”
Wikipedia says “A partnership between Bell Helicopter and Boeing Helicopters was awarded a development contract in 1983 for the V-22.”
Wikipedia says development of the V-280 started in 2013.
The Bell V-280 Valor Will Replace the Army's Legendary Black Hawk
Not quite. Blackhawks, depending on configuration, cost between $10 million and $25 million. Ospreys cost about $71 million. So it is between 3-ish and 7 Blackhawks to an Osprey.
They actually aren't a direct replacement for Blackhawks. They are more a transport unit. It is replacing different units in different services, like the Sea Knight CH-46 which entered active service in 1964, almost 60 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jub8dVQVGSk
Deep Intel on Why ALL Ospreys are Grounded
(Ward Carroll)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.