Kalitta B744 enroute on Nov 29th 2021, dropped panel

Last Update: August 26, 2025 / 13:44:36 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 29, 2021

Classification
Accident

Airline
Kalitta Air

Flight number
K4-538A

Departure
Santiago, Chile

Destination
Miami, United States

Aircraft Registration
N705CK

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

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.
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
N705CK
Country of Registration
United States
Date of Registration
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Manufacturer
BOEING
Aircraft Model / Type
747-4B5F
Number of Seats
Agj Subscribe to unlock
ICAO Aircraft Type
B744
Year of Manufacture
C ih Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
FfjAq Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
Ccfdfb Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
K Subscribe to unlock
Engine Manufacturer
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Engine Model
Dcle i Subscribe to unlock
Engine Type
GjbAidh h Subscribe to unlock
Pounds of Thrust
Jjkhj Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Nov 29, 2021

Classification
Accident

Airline
Kalitta Air

Flight number
K4-538A

Departure
Santiago, Chile

Destination
Miami, United States

Aircraft Registration
N705CK

Aircraft Type
Boeing 747-400

ICAO Type Designator
B744

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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