The deadly crash of an Air Force CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft off the coast of Japan last year, killing all eight service members aboard, resulted from a “catastrophic failure” of the troubled craft’s gearbox and the pilot’s decision not to land immediately in response to warnings in the cockpit, Air Force investigators said Thursday.
The Nov. 29 crash near Japan’s Yakushima Island led to a months-long grounding of all Osprey aircraft across the military. The Osprey can take off like a helicopter but fly like an airplane. The Osprey was flying out of the Yokota Air Base.
Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, then commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, convened the investigation into the deadly crash. The Aircraft Investigation Board conducted interviews, examined maintenance logs and flight recorder data, and inspected the aircraft wreckage.
The evidence indicated that the crash was caused by a “catastrophic” failure of the left-hand prop rotor gearbox. It created a rapidly cascading failure of the aircraft’s drive system that resulted in what investigators said was an “instantaneous asymmetric lift condition” that could not be corrected by the crew, according to the investigation.
The investigators also found that poor decision-making on the part of the pilot and crew was a factor in the fatal crash. They first learned of the problems in the gearbox almost 50 minutes before the crash. Even with multiple warnings of mechanical failures, investigators said inadequate risk management and ineffective crew resources management “substantially” led to an “insufficient sense of urgency” throughout the entire incident.
The pilot continued with the mission with minimal discussion among the crew. There was no acknowledgment of closer locations to land the aircraft safely, leading the Osprey to fly more than 300 miles over open water to reach Kaden Air Base, the final destination.
The pilot “inadequately prioritized continuing the mission over considerations related to the risk of extended flight,” according to the accident report.
Los Angeles-based lawyer Tim Loranger represents some of the family members of those who perished in the Osprey crash. He expected the official Air Force inquiry to scrutinize the actions of the pilots and crew.
“However, one fact remains clear: [The Osprey] suffered a catastrophic failure initiated by a crack in one of the high-speed pinion gears,” Mr. Loranger said. He argued no amount of skill or experience could have overcome the “catastrophic mechanical failure” that led to the open-water crash.
“While it does mention decisions made by the crew during the incident, it is crucial to understand that these decisions were made under extreme pressure and what became a rapidly deteriorating situation,” Mr. Loranger said. “Any suggestion that places blame on those who are no longer here to defend their actions only adds to the deep pain their families are already enduring.”
The Osprey, with a sticker price of more than $70 million apiece, has been plagued with problems since it first rolled off the assembly line and was shipped to the Marines, who remain its primary customers. More than 50 service members have died since June 1991 in dozens of incidents involving the craft.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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