A recent investigation into the crash of a UPS plane in Louisville, Kentucky, has revealed that the company never required detailed inspections of a critical engine part, despite recommendations from Boeing. The plane crashed last fall, killing three pilots and 12 people on the ground, and injuring 23 others.
Investigation Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released documents showing that UPS did not require its mechanics to inspect the engine’s spherical bearing, which is located deep inside the pylon that holds the engine to the wing. The bearing’s failure led to the engine flying off the plane during takeoff.
Boeing had recommended enhanced inspections of the bearing, but UPS said it relied on Boeing’s assurance that the existing inspection requirements were sufficient. The company also pointed out that Boeing never added the enhanced inspection procedure to its federally approved maintenance schedule.
The NTSB’s investigation found that the failure of the bearing was not detected during routine inspections, and that the company’s maintenance program did not require the level of scrutiny needed to identify the problem.
Response from UPS and Boeing
UPS said that it had followed Boeing’s recommendations and that the crash was inevitable once the pylon separated from the aircraft. Boeing acknowledged that it had misunderstood the risks associated with the bearing’s failure and had not realized that it could lead to the engine flying off the plane.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also acknowledged that it had not fully understood the risks associated with the bearing’s failure. The agency had approved Boeing’s plan to extend the inspection schedule for the bearing, which allowed airlines to complete more maintenance tasks simultaneously.
The crash has raised concerns about the safety of the MD-11 aircraft, which is used by several airlines, including UPS and FedEx. FedEx has since resumed flying its MD-11s after the FAA approved Boeing’s plan to ensure their safety.
Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.
