In its continuing investigation of US Airways flight 1549, the
National Transportation Safety Board has developed the following
factual information:
The right engine has been externally examined and documented.
An examination of the first stage fan blades revealed evidence of
soft body impact damage. Three of the variable guide vanes are
fractured and two are missing. The engine's electronic control unit
is missing and numerous internal components of the engine were
significantly damaged.
What appears to be organic material was found in the right
engine and on the wings and fuselage. Samples of the material have
been provided to the United States Department of Agriculture for a
complete DNA analysis. A single feather was found attached to a
flap track on the wing. It is being sent to bird identification
experts at the Smithsonian.
The left engine has been located in about 50 feet of water near
the area of the Hudson River where the aircraft ditched. The NTSB
is working with federal, state and local agencies to recover the
engine, which is expected to occur sometime on Thursday.
The NTSB has learned that the right engine experienced a surge during a flight on
January 13, 2009, and that subsequent maintenance
actions included the replacement of a temperature probe.
Investigators from the NTSB's Maintenance Records group are
researching this report by examining applicable maintenance records
and procedures.
The NTSB's Survival Factors group is in the process of
interviewing passengers to learn more about the events surrounding
the ditching and the emergency evacuation and rescue. The
Operations and Human Performance group is interviewing US Airways
flight operations training personnel.
The checked and carry-on baggage is in the process of being
removed from the aircraft. Representatives from the NTSB's Office
of Transportation Disaster Assistance are working to coordinate
efforts with US Airways to return these items to the
passengers.
The on-scene documentation of the airplane is expected to be
completed by the end of the week. Preparations are underway to
facilitate movement and more permanent storage of the airplane so
that more detailed documentation of the damage can be performed at
a later date.
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