AAL A-300 accident
Flight Safety,
Your comment,
"How could these .3G and .4G forces from a wingtip vortex against the rudder, cause complete failure of all the rudder PCA attachments"
You will note that in the picture of the vertical stabilizer being hauled up from the barge that there are no linkages attached to the rudder actuators. When were they disconnected?
Nasa states that the angular forces in a rotating vortex can reach 300'/sec. These forces striking the surface area of the rudder, broadside, on one side and then the other, alternately, could cause a linkage failure. Do you really think that any pilot would kick the rudder back and forth rapidly, as recorded?
Of course when the .8G force struck the rudder it was broken into four pieces. The linkages were severed from the rudder at some point in the flight. THE CO-PILOT did not have any use of the rudder in the attempted recovery!
Your further comment.
"If it were, the NTSB has been focusing on the vertical fin attachment lugs and pilot use of the rudder, in vain."
Yes I agree.
Last edited by wsherif1; 26th February 2004 at 14:20.