cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/38340028

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https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c201kgq59qgt

Fires are still burning after a UPS cargo plane crashed during takeoff at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky

Three deaths have been confirmed so far but local officials expect that number to grow

At least 11 people are being treated for injuries and others are missing - people living nearby have been told to seek shelter

The aircraft was carrying around 38,000 gallons of fuel when it exploded, with flames engulfing nearby businesses

UPS says three crew members were on board - all are still unaccounted for

Flight 2976, which was bound for Hawaii, crashed at around 17:15 local time, the US Federal Aviation Administration says

2nd Angle

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  • Canopyflyer@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    6 days ago

    The prelim report on this accident is really going to be interesting.

    Some of my thoughts and not meant to be all inclusive or even remotely conclusive. Just rambling thoughts of an old aviation enthusiast, Skydiver and someone that has bailed out of an aircraft twice AND been in one crash (Beech 18). I also saw the aftermath of UAL232 back in 1989. My parents and I drove by Sioux City, IA about 4 hours after the crash occurred. Also, I grew up on the Indiana side of Louisville. Although I haven’t lived there since 1988, it pained me to see my old home area ravaged like that. Also, yes I’m old.

    1. The number 1 engine did NOT depart the pylon. Photos showing the engine are sans the parts of the pylon, but the NTSB has stated that the pylon broke away from the engine as it tumbled down the runway.

    2. The pylon failed AT THE WING and not at the engine. The engine mounts are designed to fail in case of catastrophic engine imbalance and the pylon wing mounts are designed to hold. However, it is the mounts at the wing that failed and caused the engine to depart.

    3. Cause of the pylon failing is not known and there is not enough evidence released yet to make a guess much less a determination (not that anyone but the NTSB should be trying to determine things). Did the engine have an uncontained failure that damaged the wing mounts of the pylon? (UAL232?) OR did the pylon fail first? Would a turbine disk failure be far enough back on the pylon to damage the pylon to wing mounts?

    4. The number 2 engine experienced compressor stalls due to ingesting debris from the failing number 1 engine. A fully loaded MD-11 will not get off the ground on one engine. There is video evidence of the rudder being hard over which is evidence the number 3 engine was working.

    5. At least some of the lessons from AA191 were learned. The plane was wings level and nose up until it struck the ground. Videos show the port leading edge slats out. Modifications after AA191 included multiple hydraulic systems operating the slats, as well as a mechanism to physically lock the slats in the deployed position in case of hydraulic failure. So the plane could lose all 3 hydraulic systems and the slats would remain out.

    6. It has been stated that the plane went through heavy maintenance. Was that a C or D check? UPS is in the middle of creating a modernization program for their MD-11 fleet, but as far as I have been able to ascertain it has not be launched yet.

    7. Is this the end for the MD-11? And should it be the end?

    8. Did the pylon fail right at Vr? Gyroscopic forces are at their greatest on rotation and probably the most force the pylon sees during the entire flight. Also, it was gyroscopic forces that caused the engine to come to rest on the left side of the runway.

  • Cptn_Slow@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    16 days ago

    Rumor is floating around they took a two hour maintenance delay for the left engine prior to this.

    All three pilots dead.