I hate to be a 'party pooper' but any reason anyone comes up with for the Eagles' lack of involvment is no more than an excuse. Tolkien included them as a Deus Ex Machina. It was the only way certain things could get done in the book.
On the other hand, I think an Eagle could probably take on a Fell Beast, the ability to 'go into stoop' or whatever its called would give it an average attack speed of 100km/h or soemthing. This is an ability the serpentine Fell Beasts would not have.
However, this couldn't have happened if they were carrying someone/something. Birds are very well balanced creatures and adding more weight would make it harder for them to fly, maybe?
As for flying over Mt Doom and just dropping It in. Have you seen the amount of smoke and fire that comes out the top of an active volcano when erupting? No eagle could fly over the top of that low enough to be able to drop a ring accuratley into the crater. The thermals alone would stop the Eagle flying too low over the Mountain.
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The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath,
The drums will shake the castle wall, the ring wraiths ride in black, Ride on.
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