A defective part is likely to blame for a New York City ferry boat accident that injured dozens of passengers when it crashed into a pier in May, the Associated Press reported.

The National Transportation Safety Board issued the finding on the eve of the ferry boat's return to service. The agency reported that the ship's propulsion system wasn't responding properly to commands from the wheelhouse. The ruling likely means that those who have filed a personal injury lawsuit can make a claim against the manufacturer, as well as the city and other parties who share responsibility for the accident.

The Barberi ferry slammed into a pier at its Staten Island terminal on May 8 after the pilot couldn't get the boat to slow down. The assistant captain was at the helm and was unable to get the boat's drive system to engage properly and reverse thrust. As we reported on our New York Injury Lawyer Blog, three dozen passengers were injured. The boat was carrying 252 passengers at the time of the crash.

THE NTSB now believes one of the ferry's two propulsion units was possibly defective. After the systems were replaced, the problem went away and the ship has functioned fine during sea trials. The same ferry crashed into the same pier in 2003 when the pilot passed out while behind the wheel. Eleven people were killed. The ferry underwent a multi-million-dollar restoration before returning to service. The NTSB reports that the propulsion system was not believed to have been damaged as a result of that accident.

The Associated Press reports that the ferry returned to service on Sunday.