The program was substantially delayed by engine reliability problems, and was canceled because more promising jet attack aircraft had entered development and the smaller escort carriers the A2D was intended to utilize were being phased out.

Three proposals were put forth in the next year and a half: the D-557A, to use two General Electric TG-100s (T31s) in wing nacelles; the D-557B, the same engine, with contra-rotating propellers; and the D-557C, to use the Westinghouse 25D.

These were canceled due to engine development difficulties, but BuAer continued to seek an answer to the high fuel-consumption of jet aircraft.

[3] Engine development problems delayed the first flight until 26 May 1950, made at Edwards Air Force Base by George Jansen.

[4] The investigation found the starboard power section of the coupled Allison XT40A turboprop engine had failed and did not declutch.

[5] Additional instrumentation and an automatic decoupler was added to the second prototype, but by the time it was ready to fly on 3 April 1952, sixteen months had passed, and with all-jet designs being developed, the A2D program was essentially dead.