LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary findings from the deadly UPS plane crash in Louisville, revealing evidence of metal fatigue and stress failures in a critical engine component.
The report details “fatigue cracks” in the left pylon aft mount lugs and a fractured aft spherical bearing race, as well as “areas of overstress failure” on the pylon – the structure connecting the engine too the wing. Investigators found these issues during an examination of the wreckage.
According to the NTSB, the affected parts had undergone a detailed visual inspection in 2021, but the crash occurred before the next scheduled inspection.
The Nov. 4 crash, which occurred during takeoff from Louisville’s airport, resulted in fourteen fatalities and numerous injuries. Following the incident, both UPS and the FAA grounded all MD-11 aircraft.
The NTSB report confirms First officer Lee Truitt, of Albuquerque, NM, was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash.
The examination remains ongoing, and the NTSB anticipates it could take up to a year to determine the official cause of the accident. The full report is available here: https://htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/files/prelimiary-report-dca26ma024-691f3edfebad0.pdf
