The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report on the UPS cargo plane crash that occurred on 4 November in Louisville, Kentucky, in which 14 people lost their lives. The report found that one of the aircraft’s engines separated from the wing during take-off, struck the fuselage causing severe damage, and subsequently caught fire.
Engine Broke Off Immediately After Take-Off
In the investigation prepared with detailed footage shared by the NTSB, it was stated that the engine detached from the left wing at the moment the aircraft lifted off the ground. The separated engine struck the fuselage violently, compromising structural integrity and igniting shortly thereafter.
The aircraft, which had taken off from Louisville en route to Hawaii, had reached an altitude of only 30 feet (approximately 9 metres) at the time of the accident. It was reported that debris struck the roof of a nearby UPS warehouse, causing additional damage.
‘Fatigue Cracks’ in Engine Mounts
According to information reported by the BBC, the preliminary report identified “fatigue cracks and overload-related fractures” in the engine mounting point on the aircraft’s left wing. It was also determined that one of the bearings connecting the engine to the fuselage had completely fractured.
While the aircraft had accumulated a total of 92,992 flight hours and 21,043 take-off–landing cycles, it was revealed that the engine mounts had not undergone the special detailed inspection required at 29,200 cycles.
The report noted that hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel were dispersed from the aircraft following the accident, and included statements from local authorities describing that “fuel was raining down.” Due to the risk of explosion and air pollution, a temporary shelter-in-place warning was issued within an 8-kilometre radius around the airport.
14 People Lost Their Lives
Three crew members on board the aircraft and 11 people in the surrounding area died in the disaster; 23 others were injured. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency following the crash and deployed the National Guard.
Final Report to Be Released in the Coming Months
The NTSB announced that the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were being analysed at a specialised facility. The final report is expected to be released in the coming months once the comprehensive investigation is completed.
