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 grounding is due to a series of "hard clutch engagement" incidents in the gearbox, which can cause dangerous power transfer issues and potential loss of control.
Four such incidents have occurred in the last five years, with two in the last six weeks, prompting the stand down, though the root cause remains unknown and under investigation.
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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