The Army has grounded its whole fleet of CH-47 Chinook helicopters whereas it really works to repair gas leaks that brought about an unspecified variety of engine fires, the service confirmed.
In a press release, the Army mentioned it was grounding the fleet of about 400 plane “out of an abundance of warning,” stressing that no deaths or accidents resulted from the fires.
“The Army has recognized the basis reason for gas leaks that brought about a small variety of engine fires amongst an remoted variety of H-47 helicopters and is implementing corrective measures to resolve this challenge,” Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith mentioned in an e-mail. “The security of our troopers is the Army’s prime precedence, and we’ll guarantee our plane stay protected and airworthy.”
Learn Subsequent: Air Drive Recruiters Obtain Pay Lower as Service Scrambles to Meet Finish of 12 months Objectives
The assertion didn’t present particulars on the restore timeline, nor what operations or coaching could possibly be affected by the grounding, which was first reported by the Wall Road Journal.
However the assertion did counsel that some Chinooks could possibly be again within the air shortly. About 70 helicopters are believed to have a defective half that is been linked to the issue, in response to the Journal.
“Based mostly on the outcomes of our investigation, some plane could not require corrective measures and will quickly return to regular flight operations,” Smith mentioned.
The Chinook has been a staple of the Army fleet since its introduction 60 years in the past, carrying troops and cargo on battlefields from Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq. The present mannequin, the CH-47F, is the Army’s “solely heavy-lift cargo helicopter supporting fight and different important operations,” in response to the service’s web site.
The problem that prompted the grounding stems from an engine half often called an O-ring, in response to a press release from Honeywell Worldwide, which manufactures the engine of the Boeing-made Chinook. O-rings are used to create a seal between engine elements to stop leaks.
Whereas investigating incidents involving the Chinooks, Honeywell and the Army found O-rings that have been “not assembly Honeywell design specs” and have been put in within the engines throughout routine upkeep, in response to the contractor. The defective O-rings weren’t made by Honeywell, the assertion added.
“It’s believed these suspect O-Rings have been recognized and remoted,” Honeywell mentioned. “Joint U.S. Army and Honeywell engineers recognized the difficulty, and at the moment are working with the Army to supply substitute O-rings on all affected Chinooks.”
The grounding of the Chinook fleet is the newest in a string of main plane points for the navy. Earlier this month, Air Drive Particular Operations Command introduced it was grounding its whole fleet of CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor plane over a difficulty with the clutch. The Marine Corps, in the meantime, mentioned it will proceed to fly its Ospreys because the service has recognized in regards to the clutch challenge since 2010 and has skilled its pilots to work round the issue.
Ejection seat points additionally brought about the Air Drive, Navy and Marine Corps to floor a whole lot of plane in July, together with F-35A Lightning IIs, F/A-18 Hornets, F/A-18E/F Tremendous Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, in addition to T-45 Goshawk, F-5 Tiger II, T-38 Talon and T-6 Texan II coaching plane.
— Rebecca Kheel will be reached at rebecca.kheel@navy.com. Comply with her on Twitter @reporterkheel.
Associated: Air Drive Grounds Osprey Fleet Indefinitely After Latest ‘Security Incidents’
Present Full Article
© Copyright 2022 Navy.com. All rights reserved. This materials might not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
