Preliminary Investigation Reveals Critical Safety Findings
A United Parcel Service Inc. cargo plane that crashed earlier this month, killing 14 people, showed fatigue cracks in multiple sections securing the engine turbine, according to a preliminary report released by safety investigators. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation uncovered disturbing evidence pointing to structural failure as the cause of the tragic accident.
The Moment of Catastrophe
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighter experienced a catastrophic failure during takeoff from UPS's main hub in Louisville, Kentucky. The left engine completely detached from the aircraft just after becoming airborne, with the plane never climbing higher than 30 feet before crashing. The incident resulted in the deaths of all crew members aboard and several people on the ground.
Dramatic evidence documented in the preliminary report shows the engine and its supporting pylon structure breaking away and erupting into a fireball almost immediately after takeoff. This November 4 crash represents one of the most significant aviation accidents in recent US cargo aviation history.
Eerie Parallels to Historical Accident
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti, former accident investigation chief for the US Federal Aviation Administration, noted the circumstances bear "eerily similar" characteristics to a 1979 American Airlines DC-10 crash where the left engine also detached shortly after takeoff. However, Guzzetti clarified that while similar, the structural failure occurred in slightly different locations between the two incidents.
Significantly, the NTSB determined the 1979 American Airlines crash resulted from damage caused by improper maintenance practices. In contrast, initial findings from the UPS investigation don't indicate damage from obvious external factors beyond aging-related issues.
Fleet Grounding and Safety Response
Following the tragic accident, the FAA temporarily grounded all MD-11F cargo jets pending comprehensive inspections and corrective actions by operators. The safety directive has since expanded to include other aircraft models featuring similar engine-pylon designs.
The grounding affects approximately 9% of UPS's operational fleet and about 4% of rival FedEx Corporation's aircraft. UPS stated that prior to the official FAA directive, the company had proactively grounded its MD-11 fleet "out of an abundance of caution." Both UPS and Boeing Company, which acquired McDonnell Douglas in 1997, have committed to continuing their support of the ongoing investigation.
Maintenance History Under Scrutiny
Investigators are focusing on determining how the engine and pylon detached so soon after takeoff. The probe includes examining maintenance conducted on the aircraft several weeks before the fatal flight. According to the NTSB report, a detailed visual inspection of the left engine mount structure was performed in October 2021.
Concerningly, the specific component that failed during the crash wasn't scheduled for more intensive inspection for another 8,000 takeoffs and landings. Guzzetti noted that while this interval followed initial design and maintenance requirements, "this part failed long before that interval."
The aircraft involved in the crash has a long history, originally built for Thai Airways International in the early 1990s before being converted to cargo configuration approximately two decades ago. The plane was powered by three General Electric Company CF6 engines.
While the preliminary report provides crucial clues about the crash sequence, NTSB officials caution that definitive conclusions typically require one to two years of comprehensive investigation. The MD-11 aircraft model is no longer in production and currently serves exclusively in cargo operations, with the last passenger flight occurring over ten years ago.
