Posted on 10/20/2007 2:18:00 PM PDT by A.A. Cunningham
Marine aircraft makes emergency landing
Craft's engine cover fell off, landed in Bell Arthur field
By Michael Abramowitz
The Daily Reflector
Saturday, February 09, 2008
A U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Osprey made an emergency landing at Pitt-Greenville Airport Friday night after an outer engine cover fell off and landed in a field in Bell Arthur, an airport official reported.
The aircraft, based at Marine Corps Air Station New River landed safely just after 6:20 p.m. with a four-man flight crew and 15 marine troops on board, said Jim Turcotte, the airport manager.
The aircraft was one of four Ospreys flying in the Greenville area after picking up squad members from Quantico, Va., when a piece of exterior skin of the right engine intake assembly came off, said Major Shawn Haney, a Marine Corps public affairs officer. The Ospreys are part of the VMMT204 training squadron with the Second Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock.
The Osprey takes off vertically like a helicopter and flies like a plane. It flies faster and farther than helicopters, according to The Associated Press.
When the part came off, a caution light signaled the problem and a precautionary landing was made, Haney said. The troops and crew were uninjured.
"From what I understand, there was no damage to the property (where the part landed)," Haney said.
An airport crew was servicing an aircraft when the Ospreys appeared with little warning, Turcotte said.
"The military is on a different radio frequency than we are," Turcotte said.
The presence of the Osprey presented two issues for Turcotte.
"First, the military has an aircraft that is inoperative at the present time. So they need to get that bird fixed and back in the air. The second issue is to keep airport operations working as they should," Turcotte said.
He said there is no reason the problem should not be worked out, but pointed out one complication.
"The plane is parked in a restricted area, and our regulations don't have a caveat that says the military has authorization to be in that area. Anybody in that area has to be under escort, and that is the issue right now," Turcotte said.
An airport crew watched over the plane and its crew as repairs got under way, Turcotte said.
"We're used to challenges and the unusual, so this is all in a day's work for us," Turcotte said.
Shortly after the aircraft landed, Sheriff Mac Manning and Pitt County Emergency Management Director Noel Lee arrived to confer with Turcotte and the Osprey's flight crew.
The aircraft part was picked up by Bell Arthur resident Marshal Prentice near Bell Arthur Road, not far from U.S. 13, Manning said.
"I heard the aircraft as I was leaving the courthouse," Manning said. "I was talking to my wife on my cell phone and I was getting messages about parts falling off in a yard while I was hearing the plane flying over Greenville. It didn't sound like a good situation to start with, but it's turned out pretty good," Manning said.
The Osprey program has a checkered background. The aircraft was grounded early in its development after two crashes that killed 23 service members, according to The Associated Press.
The Osprey is intended to replace the CH-46 helicopter. The first operational squadron in the military was created at New River and deployed in September.
The sheriff and Lee were there in case the situation had been disastrous.
"We would be providing management of any needed resources including search and rescue, fire-rescue, EMS and law enforcement," Lee said.
Congratulations. Must be a great program to be involved with!
The look of those birds configured for vertical takeoff takes a bit of getting used to! Looks like they were assembled by a dyslexic.....[grin].
But then I'm old - and new things all look funny.
Keep 'em coming - would love to see one flying. I'm in Seattle - all we see in Boeing commercial stuff and some big transports out of McChord.
great pics
My brother just happened to be the pilot for this photo of the Osprey #11 on this day. The pilots never fly the same aircraft. The names on the aircraft are by rank.
Wow..I did not know this thread was still getting views..Glad you found it..I am grateful for your brother’s service!
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