UPS MD11 down in Louisville

Ugh...videos showing a massive fire in #1...like the whole wing root/nacelle on fire just after rotation....and then hitting a building...maybe cartwheeling.

There will be lots of injured and maybe killed on the ground. It had fuel to go to HI.

RIP to all...Heal up to those injured.
 
Saw some pics showing a complete engine laying on the runway...The whole engine detached...probably why there was so much fire. maybe loss of fuel pressure or smoke/flame in #2 affected thrust.

just damn.
 
Pretty bad here, they've shut down a large swath of the city, even canceled school tomorrow because of all the chemicals released. I know that area well as I've done construction at a majority of the surrounding companies that got hit. I image it's going to get worse when the debris cleanup starts. Looks like an entire neighborhood got hit with burning fuel. I can smell the fire and I'm 15 miles from the airport.
 
The one slightly positive thing is that the area off the end of the runway was scrap recycling yards and a large open space.
 
How does the entire powerplant get blown off during a takeoff roll?

Praying for the victims and families, that crash site and damage area is massive.
 
Dragginass said:
How does the entire powerplant get blown off during a takeoff roll?

Praying for the victims and families, that crash site and damage area is massive.
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By design. The mounts are frangible so the engine will separate from the airframe vs causing damage to the structure. If the engine becomes massively unbalanced (think catastrophic damage to the fan/compressor section), it could literally shake the airframe apart.
 
MGM said:
By design. The mounts are frangible so the engine will separate from the airframe vs causing damage to the structure. If the engine becomes massively unbalanced (think catastrophic damage to the fan/compressor section), it could literally shake the airframe apart.
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I don't know anything about MD-11s but that's the opposite of the aircraft I work with. They are designed to keep the engines from becoming additional projectiles. But yeah, add fire and a large rotating imbalance and it's not impossible to exceed the design limits.
 
ChemGuy said:
Not the first time and engine has fallen off a plane. Usually only a few bolts/pins holding them on.
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Didn't DC-10's in the late 70's have this issue? I think it was due to improper engine replacement procedures in that case
 
GRH said:
Didn't DC-10's in the late 70's have this issue? I think it was due to improper engine replacement procedures in that case
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AA 191 a DC10 (predecessor of MD11), lost its left engine in flight. Ripped hydraulics and stuff out...plane crashed from lack of control.

And the middle engine on UA 232 (DC10) exploded and severed hydraulic lines...there is video of the pilots trying to land and crashing in Sioux City IA....many survived....They had no real control and flew it with changing engine thrust.

It doesnt look like they had a chance once the engine came off. Probably lack of hydraulics, thrust, control...all of it. Very sad.

Also I read as they were SDF to Hawaii they had like 25,000 gal of fuel...probably about worst case for fuel load.
 
There’s video from another plane on the taxiway of the attempted take off. Oh man they were fighting to get that thing up. :(
 
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My first real flying job was at SDF. I flew in and out of there 1000’s of times. Ugh.

Those MD11’s are so old. It’s an issue all across aviation. I was just in a Beaver in Alaska because there is literally no other option for that mission. Imagine if a 1950’s car was your only choice.
 
SteveThompson said:
My first real flying job was at SDF. I flew in and out of there 1000’s of times. Ugh.

Those MD11’s are so old. It’s an issue all across aviation. I was just in a Beaver in Alaska because there is literally no other option for that mission. Imagine if a 1950’s car was your only choice.
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We still use the UH-60 and CH-47 on the regular. Obviously they have upgrades to each airframe and avionics but still...
 
Spoke with my grandson, he wasn't there yesterday and won't be in until Friday, (he's at uni and works there three days a week). Until any investigation is made public he's not allowed to talk about anything specific.
 
SteveThompson said:
My first real flying job was at SDF. I flew in and out of there 1000’s of times. Ugh.

Those MD11’s are so old. It’s an issue all across aviation. I was just in a Beaver in Alaska because there is literally no other option for that mission. Imagine if a 1950’s car was your only choice.
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A 1950s tractor is probably a more accurate comparison, lol. I get your sentiment on old aircraft but at least there are required inspections and life limits on critical components.
 
To add insult to injury, I heard the flight was on the way to Hawaii. That'll fuck up a supply chain to an isolated crowd of people for a little bit.
 
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