A newly released series of images and a report from the U.S.National Transportation Safety board (NTSB) detail the moments leading up to and following a plane crash, revealing cracks and signs of overloading in the engine mount. The incident occurred as the aircraft attempted takeoff, with the left engine detaching and catching fire.
The investigation focuses on a 34-year-old aircraft that crashed south of the runway while attempting to reach Honolulu, Hawaii, carrying 127 tonnes of fuel. The plane became airborne but never exceeded nine meters in altitude. The findings raise questions about inspection schedules and potential maintainance issues, impacting aviation safety protocols and the families of those affected by the crash.
Investigators discovered the detached engine and engine mount on and adjacent to the runway. Subsequent examination of the engine mount revealed multiple cracks and indications of stress beyond its design limits, according to the NTSB report.
The aircraft had accumulated nearly 93,000 flight hours and completed over 21,000 trips before the crash. Current inspection protocols required a more complete evaluation of the engine mount only after 29,200 flights. The NTSB has published a photo series documenting the engine’s separation and subsequent fire.
