thedrifter
08-08-03, 05:51 AM
Latest Osprey glitch 'human error', U.S. Navy says
By Chris Stetkiewicz
REUTERS
11:40 a.m., August 7, 2003
SEATTLE – A missing clamp caused a hydraulic leak that forced an unscheduled landing during a test flight of the revolutionary but troubled V-22 "Osprey" military helicopter near Washington, D.C., this week, the Navy said Thursday.
Osprey program officials were investigating whether the clamp was overlooked during manufacturing, which is shared by Boeing Co. and the Bell Helicopter unit of Textron Inc. , or removed during maintenance.
"We don't take human error lightly and we are trying to figure out at what point the human error occurred," said Ward Carroll, spokesman for the $40 billion V-22 program.
One of two hydraulics systems powering the V-22's flight controls failed during a routine flight above a U.S. Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia, Monday, but a backup system automatically switched on and the pilot landed safely.
Osprey test flights were continuing after checks showed no similar clamp problems on the rest of the fleet. Tests were previously halted for 17 months to probe two crashes of the tilt-rotor aircraft that killed 23 Marines in 2000.
Officials have already ruled out two previous flaws – hydraulic line chafing and defective titanium tubes.
Current tests of the aircraft, which has two big turboprop engines that swivel, letting it take off and land like a helicopter and fly like a fixed-wing aircraft, will determine whether the Pentagon will continue or scrap the program.
Despite its problems, advocates say the Marines badly need it to replace the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter, which flies half as fast, one-fifth as far and with one-third the Osprey's payload.
Industry and military sources say the Pentagon may soon announce a delay in ramping up Osprey production from its current rate of 11 a year, reallocating about $230 million to upgrade communications gear on the current fleet.
The program, which was nearly canceled in 2000, was expected to increase to 15 a year in fiscal 2005, still well below its capacity of 30 aircraft per year.
The Marines need about 350 Ospreys, with the Navy requirement at 48 and another 50 needed for U.S. Air Force special operations, industry sources said.
(Additional reporting by Charles Aldinger in Washington)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20030807-1140-arms-osprey.html
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
By Chris Stetkiewicz
REUTERS
11:40 a.m., August 7, 2003
SEATTLE – A missing clamp caused a hydraulic leak that forced an unscheduled landing during a test flight of the revolutionary but troubled V-22 "Osprey" military helicopter near Washington, D.C., this week, the Navy said Thursday.
Osprey program officials were investigating whether the clamp was overlooked during manufacturing, which is shared by Boeing Co. and the Bell Helicopter unit of Textron Inc. , or removed during maintenance.
"We don't take human error lightly and we are trying to figure out at what point the human error occurred," said Ward Carroll, spokesman for the $40 billion V-22 program.
One of two hydraulics systems powering the V-22's flight controls failed during a routine flight above a U.S. Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia, Monday, but a backup system automatically switched on and the pilot landed safely.
Osprey test flights were continuing after checks showed no similar clamp problems on the rest of the fleet. Tests were previously halted for 17 months to probe two crashes of the tilt-rotor aircraft that killed 23 Marines in 2000.
Officials have already ruled out two previous flaws – hydraulic line chafing and defective titanium tubes.
Current tests of the aircraft, which has two big turboprop engines that swivel, letting it take off and land like a helicopter and fly like a fixed-wing aircraft, will determine whether the Pentagon will continue or scrap the program.
Despite its problems, advocates say the Marines badly need it to replace the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter, which flies half as fast, one-fifth as far and with one-third the Osprey's payload.
Industry and military sources say the Pentagon may soon announce a delay in ramping up Osprey production from its current rate of 11 a year, reallocating about $230 million to upgrade communications gear on the current fleet.
The program, which was nearly canceled in 2000, was expected to increase to 15 a year in fiscal 2005, still well below its capacity of 30 aircraft per year.
The Marines need about 350 Ospreys, with the Navy requirement at 48 and another 50 needed for U.S. Air Force special operations, industry sources said.
(Additional reporting by Charles Aldinger in Washington)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20030807-1140-arms-osprey.html
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: