Pinion Gear Failure Leads to Fatal Osprey Crash

A catastrophic Osprey aircraft crash last November off Japan, killing eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members, was attributed to cracks in a pinion gear and the pilot's decision to continue flying. The crash has raised questions about the Osprey's safety and prompted new guidelines for flight crews.

A catastrophic Osprey aircraft crash last November off Japan, killing eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members, was caused by cracks in a metal pinion gear and the pilot's decision to continue flying despite multiple warnings, according to an Air Force investigation released Thursday.

The crash led to a military-wide grounding of the fleet and has intensified scrutiny of the Osprey's safety record. This incident is one of four fatal Osprey crashes in the past two years, causing divisions within the military about the aircraft's future role.

The investigation identified a failure in the pinion gear, a key component of the aircraft's proprotor gearbox, as the cause of the crash. Despite multiple chip warnings indicating metal debris in the gearbox, the pilot chose to continue the flight. Subsequent new guidelines now mandate landing at the first sign of such warnings.

(With inputs from agencies.)