An plane that crashed in flames in Kentucky in November had a structural flaw that had been recognized by Boeing on related planes 15 years in the past, in line with investigators.
The MD-11F freighter operated by UPS, crashed after one among its engines separated from the wing because it was getting ready to take off from Louisville.
The airplane briefly lifted off from the runway, earlier than hurtling uncontrolled into an industrial space. Fifteen folks had been killed together with three crew and 12 on the bottom.
In an replace, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that cracks discovered within the engine mounting meeting had beforehand occurred on a number of different plane.
At the time the producer liable for the plane, Boeing, concluded that the difficulty “would not result in a safety of flight condition”.
The MD-11 is a comparatively aged design that was initially produced by McDonnell Douglas. Boeing acquired the corporate in 1997.
The final MD-11 got here off the manufacturing line in 2001, however Boeing has continued offering components and repair assist.
In the aftermath of the Kentucky catastrophe, the NTSB issued a preliminary report which drew consideration to cracks within the engine attachment mechanism. Its newest replace goes additional, describing fractures because of “fatigue” – or repeated stresses – in a crucial bearing, in addition to the mounting it’s meant to take a seat in.
It factors out that Boeing had beforehand discovered failures of the identical half on 4 events, affecting three totally different plane. In 2011, the corporate despatched a “service letter” to operators warning them of its findings. This is a non legally-binding doc used to alert operators about vital security or upkeep info.
In this case, Boeing really useful that the half be included in a basic visible inspection each 5 years. It additionally identified modifications to the inspection process contained within the plane upkeep handbook, and drew consideration to a revised bearing meeting that could possibly be fitted – though this was not obligatory.
Tim Atkinson, a former air accident investigator who now works as an aviation security marketing consultant, mentioned the NTSB’s replace made disturbing studying.
“The structure concerned is not decorative, it’s an essential part of the mechanism that attaches the engine to the wing, and carries loads such as thrust and drag,” he defined.
“It’s extraordinary that Boeing concluded that a failure of this part would not have safety consequences.”
Boeing’s inner processes have come beneath hearth on various events in recent times.
Criticisms have targeted on how the design of its 737 Max included flawed software program that was implicated in two accidents, in 2018 and 2019, that collectively price 346 lives.
Quality controls in its factories have additionally come beneath scrutiny, after a door panel fell off a model new 737 Max shortly after take-off in early 2024.
In a press release, Boeing mentioned: “We continue to support the investigation led by the NTSB. Our deepest condolences go out to the families who lost loved ones and our thoughts remain with all those affected.”
The NTSB’s investigation is constant. It has not but issued any agency conclusions about the reason for the accident, and is unlikely to take action till it publishes its last report.
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