Posted on Jul 22, 2023
Marines determine mechanical failure in Osprey crash that killed 5 in California desert
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An investigation into the crash last year of a Camp Pendleton-based Osprey in a remote area of the Imperial Valley desert that killed five Marines was released Friday, July 21, saying “catastrophic, unpreventable and unanticipated” mechanical failure was the cause.
In the 400-plus page report released by the Marine Corps, investigators conclude that the inability of the pilots to control the aircraft was through no fault of their own, but came about because of a drive system failure in the aircraft that resulted in a “catastrophic loss of thrust on the right-hand proprotor” and created an “unrecoverable departure from controlled flight, resulting in the tragic crash,” officials said.
The Osprey crashed on June 8, 2022. The pilots and crew were doing aerial gunfire training in the desert range near Glamis, about 115 miles from San Diego.
The five Marines killed were part of Camp Pendleton’s “Purple Foxes” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364, which is part of the Marine Aircraft Group 39 with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
In the 400-plus page report released by the Marine Corps, investigators conclude that the inability of the pilots to control the aircraft was through no fault of their own, but came about because of a drive system failure in the aircraft that resulted in a “catastrophic loss of thrust on the right-hand proprotor” and created an “unrecoverable departure from controlled flight, resulting in the tragic crash,” officials said.
The Osprey crashed on June 8, 2022. The pilots and crew were doing aerial gunfire training in the desert range near Glamis, about 115 miles from San Diego.
The five Marines killed were part of Camp Pendleton’s “Purple Foxes” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364, which is part of the Marine Aircraft Group 39 with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marines determine mechanical failure in Osprey crash that killed 5 in California desert
Posted from ocregister.com
Marines
Flying
Camp Pendleton
Investigation
Posted 9 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..The five Marines killed were part of Camp Pendleton’s “Purple Foxes” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364, which is part of the Marine Aircraft Group 39 with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
“It is clear from the investigation that there was no error on the part of the pilots and aircrew and nothing they could have done to anticipate or prevent this mishap,” said Maj. Jim Stenger, a Marine spokesman. “They were conducting routine flight operations in accordance with applicable regulations when this catastrophic and unanticipated mechanical failure occurred. The investigation also found there was no maintenance error on the part of the team whose job it was to prepare the aircraft to fly on the day of the flight.”
The accident killed pilots Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, son of former Dodger player Steve Sax, and Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of New Durham, New Hampshire. The three crew chiefs also killed were Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Illinois; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming; and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico.
Shortly after the Osprey crash, the Navy and Marine Corps ordered all aviation units to stop flying for a day to review safety procedures, address areas of concern and gather feedback."...
..The five Marines killed were part of Camp Pendleton’s “Purple Foxes” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364, which is part of the Marine Aircraft Group 39 with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
“It is clear from the investigation that there was no error on the part of the pilots and aircrew and nothing they could have done to anticipate or prevent this mishap,” said Maj. Jim Stenger, a Marine spokesman. “They were conducting routine flight operations in accordance with applicable regulations when this catastrophic and unanticipated mechanical failure occurred. The investigation also found there was no maintenance error on the part of the team whose job it was to prepare the aircraft to fly on the day of the flight.”
The accident killed pilots Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, son of former Dodger player Steve Sax, and Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of New Durham, New Hampshire. The three crew chiefs also killed were Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Illinois; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming; and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico.
Shortly after the Osprey crash, the Navy and Marine Corps ordered all aviation units to stop flying for a day to review safety procedures, address areas of concern and gather feedback."...
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The Osprey, with its tandem "rotor" system has had incidents similar to the H-46 and shares many of the flight and mechanical weaknesses of all rotary wing aircraft. We used to recognize that a helicopter is a mass of millions of parts in a loose formation after getting airborne by beating the air into submission. Even the J model Cobra, with its well proven systems had a unique characteristic that killed aviators in the early days after its introduction by diving into the ground uncontrollably, with no causal input from the pilots. The chances of the engineers designing such aircraft in the comfort of their office that envisions all the potential points of failure in an operational environment is nil. Unfortunately, most of their mistakes are discovered at the cost of lives. Rest in peace brothers.
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