History of Defective Steel Resurfaces in Osprey Crash Investigation

Universal Stainless, a steel manufacturer with a history of defective parts allegations, has been the subject of renewed scrutiny following a fatal 2023 Air Force V-22 Osprey accident in Japan that resulted in the deaths of eight airmen. The military investigators connected the accident to a fractured gear manufactured by Universal Stainless, a failure attributed to non-metallic inclusions in the alloy. This defect has also been implicated in seven prior incidents since 2013.

This disclosure results from a 2001 lawsuit that accused Universal of providing defective steel for civilian aircraft engines. The case, filed by Teledyne Technologies, alleged that 92-93% of the tested crankshafts made from Universal's steel failed to satisfy specifications, necessitating costly recalls. Universal resolved the dispute without litigation.

Despite these historical and recent discoveries, the Air Force and manufacturers Bell and Boeing have yet to specify whether Universal Stainless will continue to provide components for the Osprey program. Universal was deemed unfavorable by investigators compared to Carpenter Technology, another contractor implementing more stringent quality control and testing protocols.

Col. J.F. Joseph, a retired Marine Corps pilot, underscored the significance of transparency, analogizing the situation to a vehicle recall: "This has the potential to be fatal, particularly when dealing with a V-22."

The Pentagon, Bell, and Universal Stainless have yet to respond to inquiries regarding ongoing supply agreements or corrective measures to prevent future incidents.

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