Kyle Scott Represented One Of The Families In The April 2000 Crash Of The V-22 Osprey In Arizona

While working at my prior firm I represented the mother of one of the Marines that died in the April 2000 Crash of the V-22 Osprey in Arizona. Brian Alexander of Kriendler & Kriendler was the lead attorney and I assisted in the litigation, including opening the probate of the estate for my client’s son. After a series of crashes early on, the V-22 Osprey has been improved and its descent rate has been increased and it now provides a warning when the descent rate reaches one half of the dangerous rate. Due to litigation, in part, the V-22 Osprey’s safety record has improved.

Here is the Wikipedia version of the incident:

A V-22 loaded with Marines, to simulate a rescue, attempted to land at Marana Northwest Regional Airport in Arizona on 8 April 2000. It descended faster than normal (over 2,000 ft/min or 610 m/min) from an unusually high altitude with a forward speed of under 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) when it suddenly stalled its right rotor at 245 feet (75 m), rolled over, crashed, and exploded, killing all nineteen on board.[8][9]

The cause was determined to be vortex ring state (VRS), a fundamental limitation on vertical descent which is common to helicopters. At the time of the mishap, the V-22’s flight operations rules restricted the Osprey to a descent rate of 800 feet per minute (4.1 m/s) at airspeeds below 40 knots (74 km/h) (restrictions typical of helicopters); the crew of the V-22 in question exceeded this operating restriction with a rate more than 100% greater.[10] Another factor that may have triggered VRS was their operating in close proximity, which is believed to be a risk factor for VRS in helicopters. Subsequent testing has shown that the V-22, and the tiltrotor in general, is less susceptible to VRS, the conditions are easily recognized by the pilots; recovery from VRS requires a more natural action by the pilot than recovery in helicopters, the altitude loss is significantly less than for helicopters, and, with sufficient altitude (2,000 ft or 610 m or more), VRS recovery is relatively easy.[1]

As a result of testing, the V-22 will have a descent envelope as large as or larger than most helicopters, further enhancing its ability to enter and depart hostile landing zones quickly and safely. The project team also dealt with the problem by adding a simultaneous warning light and voice that says “Sink Rate” when the V-22 approaches half of the VRS-vulnerable descent rate.[1]