NTSB Attributes 2023 FedEx Plane Crash Chattanooga To Hydraulic, Backup Gear Failures

A FedEx Boeing 757-200 freighter was forced to perform a gear-up landing at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport in October 2023 after a hydraulic hose failure led to loss of primary landing gear deployment, and a broken wire prevented the alternate landing gear extension system from functioning. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation revealed that a fatigue rupture in the left main-gear door actuator hose caused hydraulic fluid loss, while an electrical wire inside a bundle, likely damaged by tensile loading, disabled the backup gear extension system. Despite multiple troubleshooting attempts and non-standard procedures, the crew was unable to lower the landing gear and had to conduct an emergency landing, during which the aircraft skidded off the runway and sustained substantial damage, though no injuries occurred. The decision to land at Chattanooga, which has a shorter runway, rather than flying to FedEx's Memphis hub with a longer runway, was questioned by an experienced pilot, who argued that landing at Memphis could have reduced damage by allowing more runway for a belly landing. The NTSB praised the flight crew for their professionalism and cooperation throughout the incident and noted that inspection protocols do not currently include checking inside wire bundles for damage. The accident has highlighted concerns regarding maintenance and inspection procedures for aging aircraft components and emergency decision-making in flight.