A missing cotter pin caused the U.S. Marine Corps helicopter crash on a university campus near the Futenma Air Station in Okinawa in August, according to a U.S. investigation report submitted Tuesday that laid the blame on poor maintenance.
The pin was not installed in a connecting bolt on a subassembly of the CH-53D helicopter's tail rotor, according to a statement released by U.S. Forces, Japan, after the day's meeting of the fact-finding Subcommittee on Unusual Occurrences of the Japan-U.S Joint Committee.
The committee discusses matters concerning the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement.