NTSB: Fatigue Cracks Caused UPS Engine Detachment, Crash

A preliminary report from federal investigators has revealed that fatigue cracks in the engine mount caused the left engine to detach from a UPS cargo plane moments after takeoff, leading to a fiery crash that killed 14 people near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on November 4.

The National Transportation Safety Board detailed the sequence in its report released Thursday, including six surveillance photos showing the McDonnell Douglas MD-11's left engine separating during rotation on Runway 17R. Flames erupted as the engine struck the ground and fuel lines, igniting a fire that spread along the left wing. The plane, bound for Honolulu, reached a maximum altitude of about 30 feet before its landing gear clipped a UPS warehouse roof. It then veered left, crashing into a storage yard, two buildings and a petroleum recycling facility, where it was largely consumed by fire. The three crew members aboard perished, along with 11 people on the ground; 23 others were injured.

The report identified cracks in structural fittings, known as lugs, that secure the engine pylon to the wing, along with signs of overstressing. These failures occurred in components last inspected in...