An Air Force investigation into the deadly Osprey aircraft crash that occurred last November off Japan has revealed critical details about the incident. The crash, which claimed the lives of eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members, was attributed to cracks in a metal gear and the pilot's decision to continue flying despite multiple warnings to land.
The investigation found that a toothed piece called a pinion gear in the proprotor gearbox failed, leading to the catastrophic event. The pilot, Maj. Jeff Hoernemann, and his crew encountered several warnings during the flight, including vibrations and chip burn alerts, indicating potential mechanical issues.
