The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy announced Dec. 20 that some of their V-22 Ospreys had been cleared to return to service.
The tilt-rotor aircraft had been grounded again Dec. 9 following a V-22 incident in New Mexico in November.
The crew suffered a rotor failure but were able to land safely. The problem was similar to that of a Japanese Osprey that crashed in 2023.
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According to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), V-22s whose Proprotor Gearbox (PRGB) meets or exceeds a flight-hour threshold will be allowed to return to service following an interim clearance issued in March.
Aircraft that have less than a certain number of flight hours will remain grounded until their PRGBs are updated or the limit is reached.
The unusual situation is explained by the fact that the V-22’s rotor gearboxes contain impurities that cause the gears to crack, but this usually occurs in the initial cycles.
After accumulating a certain number of hours, the mechanisms are less likely to crack.
“The V-22 plays an integral role in supporting our nation’s defense. Returning these vital assets to flight is critical to supporting our nation’s interests,” NAVAIR said.
The only tilt-rotor aircraft in operation in the world, the Osprey has suffered numerous accidents during its career. Manufactured by Bell and Boeing, the V-22 operates not only with the Air Force and Navy but also with the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan.
