Report: Military aware of C-5 wheel problems

[Rockville]

BELCHERTOWN, Mass. — An internal military report says that C-5 cargo planes like the one that shed two wheels while airborne over western Massachusetts earlier this year have experienced similar problems.

The report obtained by The Daily Hampshire Gazette under a Freedom of Information request says the July incident when two 250-pound wheels fell into a wooded area of Belchertown is at least the sixth similar occurrence of its kind since 1993.

“Shortcomings of the C-5 nose wheel retaining mechanism are a known deficiency,” the report says.

But it also says the Belchertown incident appears to be the first time wheels fell off while the plane was airborne.

The report did not explain why the wheels fell off.

No one was hurt, and the 165-ton, 247-foot-long plane landed safely.

The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Oct 28, 2009 9:28:39 EDT