From BEA
"• During the takeoff run, the aircraft would have had a tendency to deviate to the left if the left main landing gear had created abnormally high drag. However, its track was straight before the loss of thrust on engines 1 and 2 and there are no observable right rudder inputs. On the contrary, some slight (rudder) actions to the left are even noticeable before V1."
If the spacer was responsible for alignment and bearing, its absence would initially create less rolling drag on the left side of the a/c; this would explain the left ruddering on the initial roll..... Seemingly innocuous, this may have set up an uncoordinated ruddering later, after the carriage problem was enhanced by the loss of the tire. Any slewing would have exacerbated the tire damage. Was this addressed? Was there no evidence of axle slop causing shimmy in the tire/hub? Prior to blowout?
Last edited by Lyman; 5th Dec 2012 at 00:53.