Originally Posted by
Hilife
I think it fair to suggest we will never be 100% certain of the exact cause, but was it not considered 'most likely' an engineering quality issue (not FI associated) relating to the fwd SUBA controlling spool valve, with the aft LCTA clutch failure being a contributing factor.
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But perhaps 99%!
The AAIB images of the Fwd SUBA were not included in MoD's report. They show that a hole was not drilled to take a roll pin. I've seen them, and they are utterly damning.
The Aft PUBA had seals fitted incorrectly, incorrect back-up rings fitted, back-up rings were not fitted at all, and the system had suffered a 'gross failure'.
Flt Lt Carl Scott, later Air Cdre, gave evidence under oath in 1996 about how the Board of Inquiry was 'directed' in order to protect Boeing; and in 2012 MoD finally conceded in writing that it would not 'prejudice relations between the UK and US'.