A short time ago, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a second factual update on the investigation into the ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in New York's Hudson River. The accident happened on January 15, 2009. Most of the information in today's update centered on the A320's number one engine, which separated from the aircraft at the time of the water landing. The engine was recovered from the Hudson River late yesterday, January 23, 2009.According to the NTSB, "The initial external examination of the engine revealed dents on both the spinner and inlet lip of the engine cowling. Five booster inlet guide vanes are fractured and eight outlet guide vanes are missing. A visual examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of organic material; there was evidence of soft body impact damage."
The just-released NTSB update also said:
Both of the engines will be boxed and shipped to the manufacturer in Cincinnati where NTSB investigators will oversee a complete tear-down of each engine. Advanced technology will be employed to detect any organic material not apparent during the initial visual examination.The first factual update on US Airways Flight 1549 was issued by the NTSB on January 21, 2009. That update reported on damage to the number two engine, which remained attached to the aircraft after the accident. The preliminary examination of that engine also revealed evidence of soft body impact damage.
Several NTSB investigators remain on-scene and are supervising Airbus technicians as the aircraft wreckage is prepared for long-term storage. This process includes removing the wings and the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The aircraft wreckage will be shipped to a secure storage facility where it will remain available to the NTSB throughout the course of the investigation.
The NTSB investigation will continue for some time.
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