The stand down is the latest safety concern related to Osprey flight operations this year. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force / Yasuo Osakabe)
Key Takeaways:
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has grounded its entire fleet of 52 CV-22 Osprey aircraft for safety investigations.
The stand-down, issued August 16, is due to a series of "hard clutch engagement" incidents within the aircraft's gearbox that can cause dangerous power transfer issues.
Four such clutch-related incidents have occurred in the last five years, with two happening in the past six weeks, prompting an ongoing safety investigation with no timeline for resolution or identified root cause.
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has grounded its fleet of CV-22 Osprey aircraft in order to conduct safety investigations following a string of incidents involving the aircraft’s clutch, according to officials.
The stand down order issued August 16 applies to all 52 CV-22 tiltrotor aircraft in AFSOC’s fleet, command spokesperson Lt. Col. Rebecca Heysetold FLYING.
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