Bell Boeing CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor crashes in Afghanistan’s

[NewsRoom]

Four killed as USAF CV-22 crashes in Afghanistan

By Craig Hoyle

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.

[Gatvol]

One may find that the Air Force is not used to the dusty enviorment. They like Tarmac and Hotels. The Marines Eat dust for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. I know first hand.

[SLetsfly]

Saw this article in R&W where VRS was a problem previously.
http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/trai...rey_67218.html

[izak]

333, Hopefully not the one you posted on facebook?

[NewsRoom]

DATE:17/04/10
SOURCE:Flight International

Source: CV-22 crash not caused by mechanical failure

By Stephen Trimble

The BellBoeing CV-22 crash in Afghanistan on 8 April was not caused by a mechanical failure, according to a source familiar with preliminary findings of the US military investigation.

The fatal crash, which killed four and injured others, occurred after the pilot lost situational awareness while landing in a wadi around 1am under brown-out conditions, the source says.

The incident killed the pilot, a flight engineer, an army Ranger and an unidentified civilian.

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), which owns the CV-22 fleet, was not immediately available to comment.

US military officials have previously stated the cause of the CV-22 crash in Afghanistan was still under investigation. Military spokesmen, however, have ruled out enemy fire as a potential cause.

The 8 August crash is the first fatal accident involving a V-22 Osprey tiltrotor since December 2000, and is the fifth fatal crash in the programme's chequered history.

In 2000, two fatal crashes within eight months caused by a combination of design flaws and mechanical failures forced military leaders to put the programme on hold for two years while contractors re-designed systems and the airframe to improve safety.

After declaring the MV-22 fleet operational in 2007, the US Marine Corps has deployed its version of the Osprey in Iraq and Afghanistan without suffering a fatal crash.

USMC officials have praised the MV-22's performance, although the service has acknowledged concerns about unexpectedly high costs to operate and maintain the unique tiltrotor fleet.

AFSOC, meanwhile, had deployed six CV-22s delivered so far to Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan before sustaining the crash.

The brown-out scenario during landing is recognized as a major safety concern for all rotorcraft operating in areas with loose sand. A recent study by the Office of the Secretary of Defense has concluded that 80% of the US millitary's 320 rotorcraft crashes during the last decade has been caused by degraded visual awareness.