2000 — April 8, USMC Tilt-rotor Osprey V-22 Crash, Marana Airport near Tucson, AZ-19
–19 Baugher. US Navy…US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (164196 to ???). 10-28-2011.
–19 Garamone. “Chain of Errors Caused Fatal Osprey Crash,” AFPS, July 28, 2000.
–19 Garamone. “Marines Clear Tilt-Rotor V-22 Ospreys,” Amer. Forces Press Ser., 5-11-2000.
–19 Marine Corps News, “MV-22 Aircraft Mishap Claims Lives of 19 Marines,” April 9, 2000.
–19 US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Bell/Boeing MV-22B Osprey….165436 (c/n D0014) crashed Apr 8, 2000 at Marana Northwest Regional Airport, AZ. 19 killed. Cause of crash was pilot losing control due to high vertical rate of descent.” (Baugher. US Navy…US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (164196 to ???). 10-28-2011.)
Marine Corps News, Apr 9: “Marine Corps officials are expressing condolences to the families of 19 Marines killed approximately 8 p.m. on April 8 when an MV-22 Osprey crashed near Marana, Ariz….
“The MV-22 was conducting a training mission in support of Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) when it went down near Marana, Ariz. During the mission, the crew and Marines conducted Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) exercises as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, with Marines embarking and disembarking the aircraft. The mission was conducted at night utilizing night vision goggles and forward-looking infrared radar to enhance night operational capability.
”Operational Evaluation is a test phase to determine the operational suitability of the aircraft for the Marine Corps. It began in October 1999 and is scheduled to conclude in June 2000….
“The mishap aircraft was part of the Multi-service Operational Test Team, based at Patuxent River, Md., but was temporarily attached to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.” (Marine Corps News, “MV-22 Aircraft Mishap Claims Lives of 19 Marines,” April 9, 2000.)
Garamone, May 11: “Washington, May 11, 2000 — The Marine Corps will resume flying its V-22 tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft. Officials said on May 9 that an examination of data from the crash last month that claimed 19 lives did not indicate any mechanical or software failures.
“Marine Lt. Gen. Fred McCorkle, Marine Corps deputy chief of staff for aviation, told reporters at the Pentagon that investigators are focusing on a condition called “power settling.” “The data show that the mishap aircraft was in a high rate of descent at a relatively low forward air speed,” McCorkle said. “This can result in a loss of lift on the rotor system. Power settling is a condition which can be common to all helicopter flight and is now the main focus of the investigation.”
“The MV-22 crashed during a noncombatant evacuation evaluation mission April 8. The Osprey was one of four flying from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz….
“Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Jones made the decision to resume flights and will be aboard the first V- 22 to carry passengers. Gen. Michael Ryan, Air Force chief of staff, asked to accompany the commandant. Marine Corps officials estimate the flight will occur in two to three weeks.
“”The commandant is confident our MV-22 Osprey aircraft are fully airworthy,” McCorkle said.
The Marines will begin flying the engineering, manufacturing and development test aircraft first, he said. EMD aircraft are instrumented and flown by test pilots who determine the parameters and limitations of the aircraft’s flight envelope, he said.
“The Marines will phase in flying the production version MV- 22s. Initially, Ospreys will fly with only essential people and then begin ferrying passengers again. McCorkle said the aircraft has performed more than 40 troop-lift missions, carrying more than 700 troops during earlier evaluation flights.
“McCorkle said the board continues to investigate the crash. The board will look at effects there may have been from aircraft flying near each other, the winds aloft at the airport and other factors that could have caused the crash.” (Garamone. “Marines Clear Tilt-Rotor V-22 Ospreys for Flight, American Forces Press Service, May 11, 2000.)
Garamone, July 28: “Washington, July 28, 2000 — Like “links in a chain,” many things went wrong in the April 8 crash of an MV-22 Osprey that killed 19 Marines, Marine officials said. Lt. Gen. Fred McCorkle, chief of Marine Corps aviation, told Pentagon reporters that results of an investigation pointed to human factors as the main culprit. The tilt- rotor MV-22 crashed during a training mission at the airport in Marana, Ariz. Four crewman and their 15 passengers died on impact.
“Two aircraft were taking part in a night training exercise out of Yuma Marine Corps Air Station, Ariz. The Marines were conducting noncombatant evacuation maneuvers.
“The primary cause of the crash was the pilot descended too quickly — 250 percent the acceptable rate, McCorkle said. Other contributing factors include an unexpected 8- to 15- knot tailwind and crew deviations from their flight plan, which put them higher than expected. “Both aircraft arrived at the airport 2,000 feet higher than planned,” McCorkle said. “In the Marine tradition of getting the mission accomplished, rather than go around, the Marines decided to accomplish the mission.”
“Both Ospreys exceeded the accepted rate of descent, but the pilot who crashed was in worse shape because he was trying both to descend and take up position behind his leader from line abreast, the general said. During this maneuver, the pilot dropped his speed to near 40 knots and experienced “vortex ring state,” a rotor stall that results in a loss of lift. Attempts to recover worsened the situation and the aircraft crashed, McCorkle said.
“The Marine Corps administratively disciplined the pilot and co-pilot of the lead aircraft for failure in judgment. McCorkle said they should have waved off instead of attempting to continue the mission. The Marine Corps pulled the pilot’s and co-pilot’s designations as aircraft commanders for six months. They can still fly as co-pilots. After six months, they must requalify as flight commanders, said Marine officials.
“Other lessons the Marines learned from the crash include stressing the importance of crew coordination both inside the cockpits and with other aircraft. Corps officials said they will continue to explore the aerodynamic characteristics of the Osprey and the best recovery techniques if an Osprey enters vortex ring state.
“McCorkle said the Marines are looking at the possibility of developing a warning system that will recognize unsafe rate of descent/low airspeed conditions. “I personally think this will be very hard to do,” he said. He said he still has the utmost confidence in the Osprey. Current plans call for the Marines to purchase 360 MV-22Bs, the Air Force to buy 50 CV-22A special operations aircraft and the Navy to purchase 48 HV-22Bs.” (Garamone. “Chain of Errors Caused Fatal Osprey Crash,” AFPS, July 28, 2000.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (164196 to ???). Oct 28 2011 revision. Accessed at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries23.html
Garamone, Jim. “Chain of Errors Caused Fatal Osprey Crash,” American Forces Press Service, 7-28-2000. Accessed at: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/docs/man-ac-v22-000728.htm
Garamone, Jim. “Marines Clear Tilt-Rotor V-22 Ospreys for Flight, American Forces Press Service, 5-11-2000. At: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/docs/n05112000_20005112.html
Marine Corps News, “MV-22 Aircraft Mishap Claims Lives of 19 Marines,” April 9, 2000. Accessed at: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/docs/000409-v22.htm
United States Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center. See “Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action.” Washington, DC: Washington Navy Yard. Accessed at: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/accidents.htm