Tail Cracks on Military’s New Helicopters Likely Due to Weight of Equipment: DND

Tail Cracks on Military’s New Helicopters Likely Due to Weight of Equipment: DND
A CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter is seen during a training exercise at 12 Wing Shearwater near Dartmouth, N.S. on March 4, 2015. The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan
The Canadian Press
Updated:

OTTAWA—The Department of National Defence is blaming an apparent design flaw for the cracks recently discovered in the tails of most of the military’s new Cyclone helicopters.

In a statement Monday, the department said it was believed the weight and pressure of equipment installed on the tail are likely responsible for the cracks, which have been found on 21 of the military’s 23 Cyclones. Nearly half of them remain grounded.