Originally Posted by
gearhorn
Would it have been possible to detect the cracked or damaged pylon during a pre-flight walk around?
dg
No - the affected bit of metal was 1) right at the pylon/wing-bottom interface, and also 2) covered by the fairing or "tailcone" skin of the pylon. Crew would need "x-ray vision."
Not to mention that that point is about 3.5m/12 feet above the ground, and a fatigue crack may be just a few mm long - right up until it lets loose completely under stress.