Are these the ones that are held together with sellotape and a wish?

Are you thinking of the V-22 or something? The CH-53K is an absolute beast I am sure it has had issues but it is easily one of the best heavy lift helicopters on earth.

They cancelled it and diverted funds meant for maintenance to other flashy weapons.

Something ridiculous like 115 marines and pilots have died in them

Neither the V-22 nor the CH-53K are cancelled, the V-22 will be eventually replaced by the MV-75 and the V-22 has a lot of serious issues but it is not a true failure like say the Littoral Combat Ship class was for example.

I am not saying the V-22 doesn't deserve to be bashed, but it is very easy to miss how the future of mobility in military terms will be tiltrotor bicopters because of the specific failures of the V-22 program. Keep those two things separate in your mind, the future is absolutely aircraft that look like the V-22 they just likely won't have engines that tilt along with the rotors.

In particular one area that tiltrotors will dominate are emergency lifesaving services (whether in military or civilian contexts), it is good then that MV-75 is being built from the beginning with a medical airlift version in mind to ensure it can fulfill that potential to the maximum.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_Lt._Van_Dorn%3F

Look, don't get me wrong I am not saying there isn't corruption, and that soldiers lives weren't thrown away carelessly in the development of the CH-53. We are talking about a massive US military program here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CH-53K

When considering the operational history of the CH-53 though (and especially most modern version the CH-53K) I don't think you can fairly label it a deathtrap, you will have an easier time arguing it is the best mass production heavy lift helicopter in the world.

https://breakingdefense.com/2025/08/how-the-ch-53k-king-stallion-can-transform-marine-heavy-lift-operations/

“What contributes to that challenge is the fact that we called it the CH-53K instead of going with something wholly different, the fact that we made it look a lot like a 53 Echo,” Fleeger explained. “I think it actually encourages, unfortunately, people to view the platform as a replacement platform instead of a revolutionary, key element of a really forward-thinking concept of operations.”

The CH-53K’s larger engines, advanced avionics, and greater payload capacity don’t just improve existing capabilities. They enable entirely new operational concepts. Where the CH-53E required extensive preparation and carried significant risk when lifting 20,000-pound loads, the CH-53K handles such operations routinely, fundamentally changing how ground commanders plan missions.

Wanna try to fight me when I can airlift piles of 155mm heavy artillery to every single hill and defensible location around you? Wherever you are?