V-22 Osprey Loose Bolts Ground Fleet

After many months of successful operations, the V-22 Osprey fleet is once again grounded. On 21 March 2009 a Marine Corps MV-22 crew in Iraq reported strange noises just after landing. During an inspection it was determined the sounds came from several bolts which were rattling around loose inside an engine nacelle. The bolts are critical components that belong to the tiltrotor's swashplate assembly. The temporary grounding order effects both the Marine MV-22 and US Air Force CV-22 Osprey fleets. At first the issue was thought to only impact V-22s operating in Iraq, possibly due to the tempo of those operations. However inspections have uncovered at least one very high time aircraft in the US with the same problem. This may mean there is a design-related flaw effecting reliability. The timing is especially unfortunate as it tarnishes the US Air Force milestone reached on 19 March 2009 of CV-22 Initial Operational Capability. If you are interested in V-22 pictures be sure to visit the http://www.AeronauticPictures.com royalty free stock photo collection. To learn more about the history of the V-22 and see the only hour long video documentary on the development of tiltrotor technology, be sure to visit http://www.AeroSpaceNews.com

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• V-22 Osprey
• Marine Corps
• MV-22
• CV-22
• Osprey
• Iraq
• Iraqi
• military
• defense
• war
• combat
• tiltrotor
• Marines
• Air Force
• nacelle
• V-22
• flight
• airplane
• helicopter
• aviation
• aircraft
• boeing
• bell

[rasmasyean]

What are they going to do with all those other helicopters? Sell it to Iraq or something?

[aerospacenews]

The V-22 Osprey is replacing end of life aircraft, not freeing up inventory to sell as far as I know.

[rasmasyean]

Why don't they just weld the bolts and then cut them off if they need to remove it later?

Anyways, what's with that guy in the beginning? Was he warming his hands with the engine exhaust?

[aerospacenews]

I don't think that is very practical. The shot you refer to is I believe the crewmember attaching a grounding strap/line, not warming his hands.

[worldsailor128]

Should have been killed 30years and $60 BILLION ago.

[aerospacenews]

What makes you say that? I for one don't agree with you.

[Tjita1]

I wounder what they define as a very-high-time-aircraft. The trainer PA28 at our flight club has god nearly 9000 hours on it. That's pretty high in my eyes, but I don't know.

[O7ROADKING]

this thing should never have been built what a total waste of money . an accident waiting to happen

[wildwindsca]

@rasmasyean the guys drying his frickin hands alright, not that thats a bad thing.

[rasmasyean]

@0:37 he's not doing anything with a strap.