Air Force grounds CV-22 Ospreys due to safety concerns
 

Air Force grounds CV-22 Ospreys due to safety concerns
By: Misty Serveri - Greaking News Reporter & Washington Examiner 08-11-22
Re: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/p...afety-concerns

The U.S. Air Force has grounded all 52 of its CV-22 Osprey aircraft indefinitely after two safety incidents occurred in the past six weeks, Air Force Special Operations Command officials said Wednesday.

The grounding will remain in effect until the root cause of the safety concerns has been identified, spokeswoman Lt. Col. Becky Heyse told Breaking Defense.

AFSOC Commander Lt. Gen. Jim Slife ordered the grounding due to a problem with the clutch, Heyse said. The clutch, which connects the craft's engines to the propeller, keeps slipping for an unknown reason. When the slip occurs, the power transfers to the other engine, which has been designed to keep the craft in the air if one engine fails.

After the slip, the initial clutch often reengages and the power shifts back to the original propeller rotor and engine.

The problem has not caused any deaths or injuries, Heyse said, but airman safety is a top priority for the military branch.

“The safety of our Airmen is of the utmost importance, therefore no AFSOC CV-22s will fly until we will determine the cause of the hard clutch engagements and risk control measures are put in place,” Heyse said.

It is unclear whether the problem is caused by a failure in the craft's mechanics, design, or software — or some combination of the three — but a joint investigation with the Joint Program Office is underway, Heyse added. It is also unclear whether the problem affects the V-22s belonging to the Marine Corps and Navy.

An MV-22 crash in Norway in March led to the deaths of four Marines, and a different crash occurred in California in June that killed five Marines. As a result, all Marine Aircraft units were grounded to review best practices and safety procedures.

News - Military - Defense - Air Force - Plane Crashes - Air Safety
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Personal note: What's wrong with these aircraft issues? Are we rushing
them through only to find so many problems which are unacceptable and
could cost many lives. Resonance is always factor on rotating equipment.
The variable in the frequencies while in flight can effect any component on
the aircraft.
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Add to that the wing designs can also resonate on their own signatures into
their mounts and transmit them - which could also allow more resonance to
sing their vibrations - and inpart could create stress fractures in the superstructure.
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As a former Rotating Equipment Engineer. Haromic's play a major factor
in the life of the equipment. I spent years dealing with variable frequencies
and trying to dampen them - or find the structural weakness - that is allowing
for these resonance to occur. Strengthen or dampen are the two elements
in question. Prop harmonics as well. You can secure the metal parts with
bolt downs and torque - but at times - the in flight the frequencies will be
subject to variable stress's (by the aircrafts manuvers), they can cause an
imbalance - and thus result in harmonics. It's not that easy - testing &
retesting - can do only one thing - save the pilot & the aircraft - or loose
one - or the other - or both.
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With the new lighter the alloys - the frequencies are always in play. Wind
tunnels are not actual flight loads - and manuever's - by which - the pilot
may have to avoid during incoming - or getting the hell out of Dodge in
heart beat.
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Loaded or unloaded - they will also alter the vibrations - or the hamonic
signatures - of the aircrafts structure (while in flight). Hairline fractures -
if found - need to be brought to the attention of the mech's. A quick patch
doesn't always fix the issue.
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Slamming onto the flight deck of a carrier - or on a stationary runway
also transmitts heavy loading from the impacts - to the landing gear -
and the structural elements - will flex and weaken over time.
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These are just my points of view from my days long past!
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Boats