Published Date: 2011-10-17
| Postmortem Analysis | |
|---|---|
| Timeline | 1. The software failure incident involving the U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey number 06-0031 happened on April 9, 2010 [8483]. |
| System | unknown |
| Responsible Organization | unknown |
| Impacted Organization | 1. U.S. Air Force - The software failure incident involving the CV-22 Osprey (06-0031) impacted the U.S. Air Force, as it resulted in a crash that led to the loss of four individuals and raised concerns about the safety and reliability of the Osprey aircraft [8483]. |
| Software Causes | unknown |
| Non-software Causes | 1. Tailwind and non-standard approach leading to a late descent and high-speed landing [8483] 2. Engine problems and potential engine failure [8483] 3. Pilot error as a substantially contributing factor [8483] |
| Impacts | 1. The software failure incident involving the U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey number 06-0031 resulted in a tragic crash in southern Afghanistan, leading to the loss of four lives [8483]. 2. The incident raised concerns about the safety and reliability of the V-22 Osprey, potentially undermining the efforts to portray it as a safe and combat-ready aircraft [8483]. 3. There were allegations of a cover-up by the Air Force to protect the reputation of the V-22 Osprey, with pressure to change the report and downplay the safety risks associated with the aircraft [8483]. 4. The incident highlighted ongoing safety issues with the Osprey's engines, including engine fires, power surges, and instances of engine failure in the past, indicating potential design or maintenance flaws [8483]. 5. The conflicting conclusions and lack of clarity in the investigation into the crash raised questions about the transparency and accountability within the military regarding aircraft safety incidents [8483]. |
| Preventions | 1. Implementing more robust engine monitoring and diagnostic software to detect potential issues with the Osprey's engines before they lead to catastrophic failures [8483]. 2. Conducting more thorough and transparent investigations into incidents involving the Osprey to accurately determine the root causes of crashes and prevent similar incidents in the future [8483]. |
| Fixes | unknown | References | 1. Air Force Times 2. Danger Room |
| Category | Option | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring | unknown | <Article 8483> does not mention any software failure incident related to either one_organization or multiple_organization. Therefore, the information about the software failure incident happening again at a specific organization or across multiple organizations is unknown. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) | unknown | The articles do not provide information related to a software failure incident occurring due to the development phases (design or operation). Therefore, the specific details about failures related to system development, system updates, or procedures to operate or maintain the system are unknown. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) | unknown | The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to the boundary of the failure being within or outside the system. Therefore, the information to determine whether the failure was within the system or outside the system is unknown. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) | non-human_actions, human_actions | (a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions: - The incident involving the U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey number 06-0031 crashing in southern Afghanistan was primarily attributed to alleged engine problems and possible mechanical failures, rather than human error [8483]. - The article mentions that the Osprey's engines had a history of malfunctions, including engine fires and power surges, indicating a pattern of non-human-related issues with the aircraft's engines [8483]. (b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions: - The investigation into the crash of Osprey 06-0031 highlighted pilot error as a "substantially contributing factor" to the mishap, suggesting that human actions played a role in the incident [8483]. - There were allegations of pressure to change the report and cover up the real cause of the crash, indicating potential human actions aimed at protecting the reputation of the V-22 Osprey aircraft [8483]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) | unknown | The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to either hardware or software. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) | unknown | The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to either a malicious or non-malicious objective. Therefore, the information regarding the software failure incident objective is unknown. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) | unknown | The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to poor decisions or accidental decisions. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) | unknown | The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to development incompetence or accidental factors. |
| Duration | unknown | The articles do not mention any software failure incident related to the duration of the failure being permanent or temporary. |
| Behaviour | crash | (a) crash: The incident described in the article is a crash of the U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey number 06-0031 in southern Afghanistan. The aircraft crashed to the ground, resulting in the loss of four lives and the destruction of the aircraft [8483]. (b) omission: There is no specific mention of a software failure incident related to omission in the provided article. (c) timing: The article does not mention a software failure incident related to timing issues. (d) value: The article does not provide information about a software failure incident related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. (e) byzantine: The article does not describe a software failure incident related to the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. (f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident in this case is related to a crash of the U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey number 06-0031 in southern Afghanistan, leading to fatalities and the destruction of the aircraft [8483]. |
| Layer | Option | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Perception | None | None |
| Communication | None | None |
| Application | None | None |
| Category | Option | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Consequence | death, harm, non-human, theoretical_consequence | [a8483] The consequence of the software failure incident was death. The software failure incident involving the U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey number 06-0031 resulted in a crash in southern Afghanistan, leading to the death of four people. The aircraft crashed to the ground due to alleged pilot errors and possible mechanical failures, ultimately causing fatalities. |
| Domain | transportation, government | The failed system in the incident described in the articles was related to the transportation industry. The incident involved the crash of a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey aircraft in southern Afghanistan, resulting in the loss of the aircraft and the tragic deaths of four individuals [8483]. The Osprey is a hybrid aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter but cruises like an airplane, making it a crucial asset in transportation and military operations. Additionally, the articles highlight the challenges and controversies surrounding the safety and reliability of the Osprey aircraft, which is a key component in the transportation sector, particularly in military operations [8483]. The incident raised concerns about possible mechanical failures and engine problems that may have contributed to the crash, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety and effectiveness of transportation systems like the Osprey in critical operations. Therefore, the software failure incident discussed in the articles is directly related to the transportation industry, specifically in the context of military transportation and operations. |
Article ID: 8483