The families of four Marines killed in a June 2022 Osprey crash have filed a federal lawsuit against Bell Textron, Boeing, and Rolls Royce, alleging that known mechanical failures in the aircraft led to the deaths. The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off and land like a helicopter but fly like an airplane. The families claim that the Osprey’s design was flawed and did not meet U.S. safety standards, leading to the catastrophic crash.
The Osprey’s two engines are interconnected by a drive shaft, with a component called a sprag clutch transferring power between the rotors to keep the aircraft balanced. However, when a worn clutch slips, a hard-clutch engagement can occur, causing a power spike that can lead to uncontrolled movements and loss of control. The investigation into the 2022 crash revealed that the pilots were unable to prevent or recover from the mechanical failure, resulting in the tragic loss of five Marines in a remote area near Glamis, California.
The Marines’ report on the crash stated that the pilots had no means of recovery once the emergency commenced, emphasizing the severity of the mechanical failure. The investigation also found that the clutches in the Osprey may be wearing out faster than anticipated, prompting the Osprey program to work on redesigning a component to mitigate clutch slippage. The lawsuit alleges that the manufacturers failed to address these known issues, putting service members’ lives at risk.
The Marine Corps warned in a 2022 report that more accidents could occur due to the inability to isolate a root cause of the mechanical failures. The report highlighted the need for improvements to the flight control system software, drivetrain component strength, and inspection requirements to prevent future incidents. The lawsuit comes as families await investigations into two other deadly Osprey crashes in 2023, one off the coast of Australia and the other off the coast of Japan, which resulted in multiple fatalities.
Following the crashes in 2023, all services grounded the Osprey fleet, with the Air Force identifying a potential materiel failure as a cause of one of the crashes. Boeing and Bell have not commented on the litigation, while Rolls Royce has yet to respond to requests for comment. The families of the Marines killed in the 2022 crash hope that the lawsuit will shed light on the failures in the Osprey’s design and hold the manufacturers accountable for the deaths of their loved ones.
