Federal officials say their investigation into a commuter ferry crash in New York City is focusing on the ferry's engines and why they may have failed.

Ferry accident at Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan
Ferry accident at Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan (WNBC TV)
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The high-speed ferry from Atlantic Highlands, N.J., made a hard landing at a lower Manhattan dock Wednesday, injuring about 70 people, 11 seriously.

National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt said Friday investigators have a potential breakthrough because they learned the engines on the Seastreak Wall Street ferry have a data recording feature they hope to examine. He says the ferry pilot told them the engines failed to reverse and then shut down during the crash.

Sumwalt says investigators will be on scene for about five more days. They've interviewed crew members and first responders.

The NTSB is seeking amateur footage of the crash.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

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