I have just read the article which heads this thread, whilst I agree with a lot of the comments, I have a feeling that there may be some truth.
There has recently been a "Seconds from Disaster" program re the Bristow helicopter tail separation & crash in the North Sea in 1996.
AAIBs Edward Trimble was the lead investigator, & his conclusion was the composite tail rotor failed after a lightning strike which partially melted, damaged. the structure. The original design had used metal which allowed electrical energy to disipate easily. This discharge does not happen so easily with composites and can lead to heating. His conclusions were not accepted by the CAA, and to my knowledge no redesign has been ordered.
SO could we read this across to composite fins etc on current fixed wing a/c. They do get struck by lightning and presumably discharge through their empenage. Could this lead to a weakening of the tail fastenings, and could this explain the large number of tail separations which seem to be occuring on Airbus a/c.
We do know that AF 447 went through a severe thunderstorm, a lightning strike may? have been a major/minor contributory factor.