October 14, 2012

MV-22 Ospreys have probably caused at least 23 accidents classified as Class A, the most serious accident, since 1991. Their accident rate is higher than that of 40-year-old CH-53D helicopters, the type of helicopter that crashed on the campus of Okinawa International University in 2004.

Military commentator Carlton Meyer, former captain of the U.S. Marine Corps, revealed this information on his website.

The Japanese Defense Ministry, however, claims that Ospreys, which are already deployed to the U.S. Futenma base in Okinawa, have caused only 6 Class A accidents.

The U.S. military categorizes accidents involving a fatality, a permanent total disability, or damages greater than two million dollars as Class A, and accidents resulting in damages from 500,000 dollars to two million dollars or an injury of permanent disability as Class B.

Mayer points out that the Marines only report Class A mishaps “if the mishap becomes public.” Some cases went unreported, he adds.

Mayer also reveals that some “airborne mishaps are reported as ‘ground’ mishaps or false damage estimates are made to remain below the Class A reporting requirement.”