AMR 587 Airbus Crash
RatherBeFlying,
NTSB hearing on AA 587, excerpt.
"PROBABLE CAUSE AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS"
"The probable cause of this accident was the onset of a design-induced, adverse aircraft pilot coupling (APC) event that led to rapid development of excessively high aerodynamic lateral loads resulting in the catastrophic structural failure of the vertical stabilizer and rudder in only six and one-half seconds."
In the NTSB reports there is no mention of the possibility of a free floating rudder! Fact - NO PILOT would kick the rudder back and forth as recorded on the FDR. Period!!!
When the rudder was struck broadside by the .3 and .4 G forces, first on one side and then on the other, by the rotating vortices from the B-747 "Heavy", the linkages to the rudder actuators failed! (NASA states that, "the rotating forces in a vortex can reach 300'/sec.")
These rotating forces were also striking the large surface area of the vertical stabilizer. When the vertical fin was then struck broadside, by the .8 g force, the abrupt Yaw initiated an inertia force that sheared off both engines from their pylons and the fin from its support structure.
IN THE ATTEMPTED RECOVERY MANEUVER , THE CO-PILOT USED A FULL RIGHT AILERON INPUT, TO COUNTER THE STEEP LEFT BANK. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY RIGHT RUDDER INPUT TO ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY ATTEMPT!! THERE WAS NO RUDDER INPUT AVAILABLE !!!!!!!
If ATC had furnished an extended separation interval behind the B-747 "Super Heavy", (Full Fuel Load, Non Stop to Tokyo!), this accident might not have occurred!!!!
This is the first accident, of this type, in 100 years of flight, where an aircraft is flown, in a perfect formation joinup, on a horizontal tornado. (The vortex off the left wing tip of the B-747 "Heavy".)
Last edited by wsherif1; 12th Mar 2004 at 05:52.