NTSB finds a fuel leak and improperly installed parts in the engine of an airliner that caught fire

By JOSH FUNK Associated Press A fuel leak and several improperly installed parts were identified inside the engine of an American Airlines plane that caught fire after the plane landed in Denver in March according to a new record distributed Thursday The National Transportation Safety Board noted one part inside the right engine of the Boeing - was loose and had been installed in an incorrect direction and that fuel was leaking from the fitting of another part that was incorrectly fastened The preliminary findings don t identify the cause of the fire because the NTSB won t reach that conclusion until after it completes its probe sometime next year FILE In this image taken from video provided by Justus Rainey passengers move away from a plane as smoke surrounded the aircraft in Denver March Justus Rainey via AP File But former NTSB and FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti reported the problems investigators detected in the engine appear to be the source of the fuel that caught fire To me it looks like improper maintenance in the right engine leading to a fuel leak Guzzetti revealed after reading the NTSB record Photos and videos posted online manifested billowing smoke and passengers standing on the plane s wing after it taxied to a gate at Denver International Airport Twelve people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries The plane carried passengers and six crew The NTSB commented gate workers extinguished the fire within a minute even before firefighters arrived and doused lingering hot spots on the plane Related Articles Police consider whether King of the Hill actor s sexual orientation played a role in his killing Welcome to kitten season when animal shelters need all the help they can get In the Sean Diddy Combs trial an ex-girlfriend testifies about abuse and control Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing declared he had it coming according to prosecutors Jury deliberations begin in Harvey Weinstein s sex crimes retrial Pictures included in the NTSB review show streaks on the outside of the engine from the leaking fuel and airport video established a trail of fluid leaking from under the right engine as the airplane taxied into the gate Guzzetti mentioned he believes those streaks were possibly made while the plane was flying After it landed he commented the fuel likely pooled inside the engine and caught fire The American Airlines flight had left Colorado Springs Airport and was bound for Dallas Fort Worth when it diverted to Denver on March after the crew stated high engine vibrations The plane s right engine caught fire after it arrived at the gate Passengers started yelling fire and smoke shortly after the plane pulled up to the gate and flight attendants saw smoke start to fill the cabin according to the NTSB record The flight attendants tried calling the flight crew and knocking on the cockpit door but didn t get an answer So the account explained the flight attendants initiated the evacuation Passengers were able to use the jetway at the front left door and the escape slide at the right rear door as well as the left over-wing doors to evacuate But the left rear door wouldn t open and maintenance personnel discovered afterward that the escape slide jammed in the door The faulty slide was sent to the manufacturer for further assessment The country has seen a up-to-date spate of aviation disasters and close calls stoking fears about air tour though flying remains a very safe mode of transportation