Photo Information

Air Force officials have released the accident investigation board report from the Sept. 7, 2007 crash of an MH-53J PAVE LOW on the Eglin Range Complex. The MH-53, like the one pictured above flying over Kirtland Air Force Base, is a heavy-lift helicopter assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Dave Nolan)

Photo by Master Sgt. Dave Nolan

Air Force releases MH-53 PAVE LOW accident report

10 Jul 2008 | Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- An accident investigation board determined the failure of the mounting nuts and studs that secured the intermediate gearbox to the tail pylon of the helicopter as the cause of last year's crash of an MH-53M Pave Low.

The MH-53, assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron, 1st Special Operations Wing, here, crashed at Landing Zone X-Ray on the Eglin Range Complex Sept. 7, 2007.

The material failure of the nuts and studs allowed the intermediate gear box to become loose. The gears became loosely meshed, perhaps unengaged, as they pushed apart, and may have begun to slip in flight. This caused an abnormal oscillation in the speed of one or both engines, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing.

None of the seven crew members were seriously injured and there was no damage to civilian property. The aircraft received approximately $8.6 million in damage.

The accident investigation board was led by Col. Scott Greene, vice commander of the 623rd Air Operations Center here. The AIB is comprised of helicopter systems experts, medial, legal and aircrew advisors.

A copy of the AIB Executive Summary is available for additional details at http://www.afsoc.af.mil/library/ under the "Hot Topics" tab. For more information, please call the Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office at (850) 884-5515 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.