Documents obtained by The Associated Press show that a gear crack that led to a fatal crash of a V-22 Osprey last year may have been started by weak spots in a metal used to manufacture that part.

A gear crack that led to a fatal crash of a V-22 Osprey last year may have been started by weak spots in a metal used to manufacture that part, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The November crash killed eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members. It was the second time in less than two years that a catastrophic failure of a part of the Osprey’s proprotor gearbox, which serves as its transmission, caused a fatal accident. In June of 2022, five Marines were killed when a different part of the proprotor gearbox system failed.

The crashes have led to an aggressive effort by the V-22 program office and manufacturer Bell Flight to find fixes for the critical system, which has had some components wear down earlier than the military expected. While investigators still don’t know for certain what caused either crash, this latest finding might hold some clues.

  • ℍ𝕂-𝟞𝟝@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    8·
    3 months ago

    “Weak spots in metal” means manufacturing defects. Aircraft drivetrains are not made from metal parts found on the side of the road outside of KSP, extensive treatments and testing goes into all of them.

    manufacturer Bell Flight to find fixes for the critical system, which has had some components wear down earlier than the military expected.

    I would guess the military expected it to last as long as it should because that was in the spec sheet. This sounds like it is all on Bell.

    • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOP
      4·
      3 months ago

      may have been started by weak spots in a metal used

      Just a bit different, as it’s the metal used … so supplier either didn’t check the quality or was supplied with a lesser grade and didn’t verify it.

      • ZapBeebz_@lemmy.world
        6·
        3 months ago

        Sounds 100% on Bell then. Because I guarantee the procurement contract was written to specify exactly what mil standards the material used is required to meet, and that the prime is responsible for verifying compliance