Ranger One, you are entirely correct here's the quote from directly from the NTSB
"The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident [AA 587] was the in-flight separation of the vertical stabilizer as a result of the loads beyond ultimate design that were created by the first officer’s unnecessary and excessive rudder pedal inputs. Contributing to these rudder pedal inputs were characteristics of the Airbus A300-600 rudder system design and elements of the American Airlines Advanced Aircraft Maneuvering Program. "
Regardless, I'm sure this incident will highly interest those that were involved with AA587 investigation.
