A FedEx plane landed with its landing gear up, skidding off the runway in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2023 after a leak in a hydraulic hose caused the system to fail and a broken wire kept the backup system from working, according to a final National Transportation Safety Board report. Federal Express flight 1376, operating a Boeing 757, took off from Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport-Lovell Field late in the evening of October 4, 2023, headed to Memphis. When the pilots raised the landing gear, the fluid pressure and quantity in the left hydraulic system, which operates the gear, decreased and an alarm sounded in the cockpit. “Gear disagree. The gear is not coming down,” the first officer is quoted as saying on the cockpit voice recorder. The crew declared an emergency and planned to return to the airport. They repeatedly tried to lower the landing gear using a backup system but were unsuccessful. “The crew used all available resources and included some non-standard attempts at troubleshooting,” the report said. When landing, the plane skidded for nearly a mile along the ground, crashing into antennas and ending up 830 feet off the end of the runway. The three people on board were not hurt but struggled to open the aircraft doors before evacuating down an emergency slide. The NTSB report praised the crew for being “calm and professional throughout the accident sequence of events” and “actively soliciting feedback and input and crosschecking with one another to ensure everyone was working with the same mental model.” After the crash landing, inspections found that hydraulic fluid leaked from a hose that opens the door for the left landing gear and had fully depleted the supply. Investigators determined the damage to the more than 35-year-old hose was likely caused by fatigue after it was, at some point, overloaded with force. An electrical wire used to operate a backup system was found to be broken, which is why the alternative method of lowering the gear didn’t work either. Since the accident, FedEx started inspecting these backup landing gear extension systems after every 275 hours of flight, the NTSB said. Investigators also found a misrouted strap and missing parts on the escape side latch on the left door, which kept it from opening during the emergency. The right door of the plane also did not have all the slide’s latch hardware, which caused it to initially jam when the crew was trying to evacuate. The plane was manufactured in 1988, after the Federal Aviation Administration had mandated these latches be changed, and the NTSB could not determine why they were used on this aircraft. A FedEx inspection found 24% of its planes with similar latches were missing parts, the NTSB said. No other aircraft were found to have misrouted straps. The NTSB reviewed Boeing’s parts catalog and FedEx’s maintenance manuals and found that they had “inconsistent depictions” of the latches, and none showed all required modifications. “These inconsistent, conflicting depictions would likely be confusing to maintenance personnel and could lead to the installation of and failure to detect nonconforming latches, which could result in another incident of an evacuation slide not deploying properly when needed,” the report said. As a result of this accident, Boeing issued a notice to other operators of the 757 around the world to inspect their latches and provided details on what they should include. The NTSB issued recommendations to Boeing to update their manuals and parts catalog to “to ensure they depict the correct configuration” for the latches and called on the FAA to require inspections of the latches “and modify or replace them, if necessary, so they comply with the correct configuration.”
Hydraulic hose failure and broken wire led to crash landing of cargo plane in 2023, NTSB report says
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"NTSB Report Details Causes of FedEx Cargo Plane Crash Landing in Chattanooga"
CNN
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TruthLens AI Summary
A recent report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has detailed the events leading to the crash landing of a FedEx cargo plane in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on October 4, 2023. The incident involved Federal Express flight 1376, a Boeing 757, which was en route to Memphis when the landing gear failed to deploy correctly. The failure was traced back to a leak in a hydraulic hose that resulted in a loss of fluid pressure, triggering an alarm in the cockpit. Despite the crew's efforts to resolve the issue, including utilizing a backup system, they were unable to lower the landing gear. As a result, the aircraft landed with its gear up, skidding nearly a mile before crashing into antennas and coming to a halt 830 feet beyond the runway's end. Fortunately, the three crew members onboard were unharmed, although they encountered difficulties evacuating the aircraft due to malfunctioning doors and slides.
Following the crash, inspections revealed that the hydraulic fluid hose, which had been in service for over 35 years, was damaged likely due to fatigue from prior overloads. Additionally, a broken wire that was crucial for the backup system's operation was also identified. The NTSB report commended the crew for their professionalism and calmness during the emergency, as they engaged in troubleshooting efforts. Investigators also found issues with the aircraft's escape mechanisms, including misrouted straps and missing components that prevented the emergency doors from functioning correctly. In response to the incident, FedEx has initiated regular inspections of its backup landing gear systems, while Boeing has issued a notice to operators of the 757 worldwide to assess similar components. The NTSB has recommended updates to maintenance manuals and parts catalogs to ensure clarity and compliance with safety standards, emphasizing the need for thorough inspections to prevent future incidents involving evacuation systems.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The incident involving the cargo plane, as reported by the NTSB, raises several important points regarding aviation safety and operational protocols. The details surrounding the failure of the hydraulic hose and the broken wire suggest a deeper issue within maintenance practices and aircraft oversight.
Safety Implications and Public Perception
This report aims to highlight the potential risks associated with aging aircraft components. By emphasizing the fatigue of the hydraulic hose, the article underscores the need for rigorous maintenance checks, particularly for older aircraft. Such narratives can foster a sense of unease among the public regarding the safety of air travel, prompting discussions about regulatory measures and compliance within the aviation industry.
Transparency and Accountability
While the report commends the crew for their professionalism during the emergency, it also indirectly calls for accountability from those responsible for aircraft maintenance. The failure of critical systems could be interpreted as a lapse in oversight, raising questions about how maintenance procedures are enforced. This could lead to public demand for stricter regulations to ensure that airlines maintain high safety standards.
Potential Manipulation or Bias
The language used in the report, while factual, could be seen as subtly steering public opinion towards a narrative that emphasizes the risks of flying outdated aircraft. The focus on the crew's calmness and professionalism might serve to alleviate public fears, yet it also risks downplaying systemic issues within the industry. If the intent is to distract from broader regulatory failures, one could argue that manipulation is at play.
Impact on Stakeholders
The article may resonate more with safety advocates, regulatory bodies, and concerned travelers who prioritize aviation safety. Conversely, it might raise alarms among airline corporations and stakeholders in the aviation industry, as they may be wary of potential fallout from negative public perception.
Economic and Political Ramifications
In light of safety concerns, this report could influence discussions around airline regulations, potentially leading to new policies that impact operational costs. If heightened scrutiny leads to increased operational expenses for airlines, it could affect stock prices and investor confidence in the aviation sector.
Global Context
This incident does not directly alter the global power balance but reflects ongoing concerns about aviation safety as a universal issue. The overall safety record of the aviation industry is critical to maintaining public trust, which plays a significant role in the economic health of the sector.
Use of AI in Reporting
It is plausible that AI tools were utilized in drafting this report, especially in organizing information and presenting it coherently. AI models might have influenced the report's clarity and focus, ensuring that key details were highlighted effectively.
In conclusion, the reliability of this report is bolstered by its detailed account of events and the acknowledgment of systemic issues like aging equipment. However, the language and framing could suggest an underlying agenda that seeks to shape public perception regarding aviation safety and regulatory standards.