Originally Posted by
GotTheTshirt
Yes it was carrying horse as the Wiki item says. Also it was the operating rod on one side that fatigue failed. Thats why only one side retracted as the actuator failing would have probably let both sides retract.
Yes, the relative positions of the port and starboard actuators were synchronised by means of a cable arrangement to ensure flap symmetry, but that was not designed to mitigate the failure of an operating rod as that eventuality was considered to be extremely remote.
Copy of the AAIB Accident Report here (P121-129):
ICAO Aircraft Accident Digest No 18 Volume II