Plane Down in Hudson River - NYC

[precept]

3rd Update Advisory From Ntsb

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NTSB ADVISORY
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
February 4, 2009
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THIRD UPDATE ON INVESTIGATION INTO DITCHING OF US AIRWAYS
JETLINER INTO HUDSON RIVER
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The following is an update on the National Transportation
Safety Board's investigation of US Airways flight 1549, which
ditched into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009.
The left (#1) engine, which was recovered from the Hudson
River on January 23 and subsequently shipped to the
manufacturer in Cincinnati where the NTSB is directing a
teardown, was found to contain bird remains. The organic
material found in the right (#2) engine has also been
confirmed to be bird remains. The material from both engines
has been sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington
where the particular bird species will be identified.
As part of its investigation into this accident, the NTSB
investigated an engine surge event that occurred in the right
(#2) engine during a flight on January 13, two days prior to
the accident. The engine recovered from the surge and the
remainder of the flight was completed uneventfully. The NTSB
determined that the surge was due to a faulty temperature
sensor, which was replaced by maintenance personal following
approved procedures. After the engine was examined with a
boroscope and found to be undamaged and in good working
order, the aircraft was returned to service.
On December 31, 2008, the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) covering all
CFM56-5B series turbofan engines, the same type that was on
the accident aircraft. After examining the engine maintenance
records and interviewing relevant personnel, the NTSB
determined that all of the requirements of the AD were
complied with prior to the accident flight.
During the accident flight, the flight data recorder revealed
no anomalies or malfunctions in either engine up to the point
where the captain reported a bird strike, after which there
was an uncommanded loss of thrust in both engines.
Last week the aircraft was moved from the barge where it had
been docked in Jersey City, NJ, to a secure salvage yard in
Kearny, NJ, where it will remain throughout the NTSB
investigation, which is expected to last 12-18 months.
Photo of feather found in the left (#1) engine:
http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2009/USAIR_1549_Bird_Feather.JPG
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NTSB Media Contact: Peter Knudson
[phone]
[email protected]