Faulty Part in UPS Plane Crash Was Often Overlooked, Witnesses Say
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- A UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville last November, which killed 15 people, was caused by a fractured bracket that led to an engine detaching from the aircraft.
- Investigators found that infrequent maintenance, siloed inspection data, and lack of awareness among mechanics about a known bearing assembly issue contributed to the part's failure.
- Boeing had issued service bulletins over a decade ago recommending inspections and replacement of the faulty bearing assembly, but did not mandate replacement or classify the issue as a critical flight-safety risk.
- The investigation raised concerns about communication gaps among UPS, the FAA, Boeing, maintenance crews, and labor representatives regarding the longstanding warnings about the part.
- The National Transportation Safety Board hearing highlighted systemic issues in maintenance protocols and oversight that may have allowed the faulty part to be overlooked.