Created Tuesday, Dec 7th 2021 20:06Z, last updated Tuesday, Aug 26th 2025 13:44Z
A Kalitta Air Boeing 747-400, registration N705CK performing flight K4-538A from Santiago (Chile) to Miami,FL (USA), completed a seemingly uneventful flight with a landing in Miami about 8 hours after departure.
A post flight inspection revealed however, that a panel was missing and has caused substantial damage to right hand flaps and a hole in the fuselage.
The FAA reported: "AIRCRAFT LANDED AND POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED A MISSING PANEL, TOP PIECES OF THE RIGHT FLAP AND THE CONNECTING ROD WERE DAMAGED PLUS A HOLE IN THE FUSELAGE, MIAMI, FL.", stated the damage was substantial and the occurrence was rated an accident.
The NTSB have opened an investigation into the accident.
The aircraft is still on the ground in Miami 9 days later (standing Dec 7th 2021).
On Aug 26th 2025 the NTSB released their final report concluding the probable cause of the accident was:
Incorrect lubrication of the foreflap fitting assembly
The NTSB analysed:
The flight crew reported that upon arrival at KMIA, another flight reported seeing something fly off their airplane. Post-flight inspection revealed damage to the right-hand inboard flaps, fuselage and right horizontal stabilizer. Upon lowering flaps, a section of the trailing edge flap was also missing. Examination of the damaged components revealed that the right inboard foreflap fitting assembly had not been lubricated in accordance with a manufacturer’s service bulletin.
