HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Today, Air Force Special Operations Command released an Accident Investigation Board report on a CV-22B Osprey mishap that occurred Nov. 20, 2024, near Melrose Air Force Range, N.M. The aircraft and crew were assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing’s 20th Special Operations Squadron, at Cannon AFB, N.M. The mishap resulted in no injuries or fatalities nor damage to civilian property. The estimated cost of damage to government property was valued at approximately $2.8 million.
The AIB President found by a preponderance of the evidence, the cause for the mishap is attributed to a catastrophic failure of the left hand proprotor gearbox lower input idler helical gear (-105) due to a materiel inclusion in the gear’s rim-to-web radius interface.
Additionally, the AIB President found by a preponderance of the evidence the following factor which substantially contributed to the mishap: poorly designed -105 gear in CV-22 proprotor gearbox.
The AIB report can be viewed at https://www.afjag.af.mil/AIB-Reports under the 2024 tab.
Questions can be sent to afsoc.pa.org@us.af.mil.