NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A leading aviation attorney says the UPS cargo jet that crashed in Louisville earlier this month — killing 14 people and injuring more than 20 — should have been subject to far more frequent safety inspections because of its age.
Keith Williams, an attorney who has represented families in major aviation disasters, says the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary findings raise urgent questions about whether current inspection schedules adequately protect crews and communities.
The NTSB’s November 20 preliminary report found a crack in the aircraft’s left engine mount, a failure that caused the engine to detach from the wing during flight. The November 4 crash also destroyed several nearby businesses.
According to the NTSB, UPS performs general and detailed visual inspections of engine mounts every 72 months. The aircraft’s last such inspection occurred in October 2021. While lubrications required every 24 months or 4,800 hours were completed, deeper-cycle inspections of mount lugs and wing supports were not yet due because the aircraft had recorded 21,043 cycles—below the required thresholds of 29,200 and 28,000 cycles, respectively.
Williams says relying solely on long-cycle inspections for an older aircraft leaves too much room for catastrophic failure.
“Waiting two to six years to reinspect a plane of this age is far too long,” Williams said. “Inspection schedules should evolve as aircraft age. A more proactive approach could prevent tragedies like this.”
He also questioned how the aircraft could have passed routine maintenance without the crack being discovered.
“How could such a serious defect go undetected during scheduled lubrication?” Williams said. “When even small structural issues are missed, the consequences can be devastating.”
Williams urged regulators and cargo carriers to reassess inspection protocols for aging fleets as the NTSB continues its investigation.
In addition to his practice, Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.
For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.
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About Keith Williams Law Group
With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.
