Cracks in Engine Mount Cited in Deadly Kentucky UPS Plane Crash

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report detailing critical findings in the deadly crash of a UPS cargo plane in Louisville, Kentucky. Investigators identified evidence of fatigue cracks in the left wing's engine mount of the MD-11 aircraft, a structural failure that contributed to the catastrophic incident shortly after takeoff. This revelation immediately raises significant concerns regarding the maintenance protocols for aging commercial cargo fleets operating across the United States and globally.

The crash, which tragically claimed the lives of all three crew members and 11 individuals on the ground, occurred as the MD-11 barely left the runway near Muhammad Ali International Airport. Photographic evidence documents the engine detaching from the wing, igniting a fire before the aircraft lost control. The NTSB's report highlighted that the 34-year-old MD-11 was not due for a detailed inspection of its engine mount under current maintenance schedules, despite being several thousand flight cycles away from its next required check.

Following these findings, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily grounded all MD-11 aircraft operated by UPS, FedEx, and Western Global Airlines for immediate inspection and potential repairs. A limited number of older DC-10 models, sharing similar structural designs, also faced grounding. Industry analysts project that any new, more stringent inspection requirements or costly part replacements could accelerate these carriers' existing plans to phase out their MD-11 fleets, which currently comprise nearly 9% of UPS's and 4% of FedEx's aircraft inventory.

Aviation safety experts draw parallels between this incident and a 1979 American Airlines DC-10 crash in Chicago, which also involved an engine and pylon assembly failure. This underscores the persistent challenge of managing structural fatigue in older aircraft. Experts advocate for the adoption of advanced inspection technologies capable of detecting sub-surface cracks, urging regulators to reassess maintenance schedules to prevent future tragedies. The ongoing NTSB investigation is poised to inform future safety regulations and maintenance practices for cargo aircraft worldwide.