Comments on: ‘High-Time’ V-22 Ospreys have a screw loose

By: DJ Elliott

DJ Elliott — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:11:00 +0000

That is a re-occuring problem in helicopter maintenance too.
There was a time when the CH-47s, and others, were losing their rotor blades because of no safety wire.

Not the mention the LAMPS design flaw in the rotor-hub that caused them to detach in the 1980s. Thus turning the helo into a rock. They flew for two years with that un-acknowledged flaw before the components were replaced. According to my brother-in-law, they never did admit to the flaw. He is a retired LAMPS pilot…

By: McThag

McThag — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:42:48 +0000

I keep thinking about how many things went wrong with helicopters before they finally became accepted as reliable.

But loosening fasteners doesn’t sound like an issue that’s associated with a radical new design. That sounds like shoddy assembly.

By: Flanker

Flanker — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:51:44 +0000

I’ll scream alot if they try to put me on one! LOL!

Can’t address the loose nuts and bolts thing, but I am 2 blocks from a coalition LZ, and Ospreys are REALLY LOUD coming and going! Watching them go through the tilt transition relative to the aircraft motion always makes me think they are flirtin’ with disaster!

By: Toejam

Toejam — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:16:17 +0000

Ya can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear without encountering a lot of earwax!

By: Wild Bill

Wild Bill — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:16:29 +0000

How about a little loctite. OK, a whole lot of loctite.

By: Kristopher

Kristopher — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:32:16 +0000

Time for castle nuts and safety wire ….