MH-47G Crash Prompts Chinook Engine Review

MILITARY

A U.S. Army MH-47G crash in which one of its Honeywell engines appears to have lost power has prompted a review of the engine and its interaction with the airframe.

The crash was among recent incidents in which a 4,900-shp Honeywell T55-L714 suffered a rollback, or sudden lost of power. Most involved the MH-47G, flown by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). One occurred in early April on a recently delivered CH-47F, which is just entering service with units of the 101st Airborne Div. The incidents have occurred in flight and on the ground. The CH-47F incident happened after it had undergone maintenance, and Army officials were uncertain at press time whether the rollback was a result of a maintenance error or engine problem.

The crash is under investigation by the Army. That service also has directed Boeing to assess a range of power problems on Chinooks.