For those familiar with the MD workings: Is it even possible at all to have a flaps handle down (to 11º) and have the flaps not come out? I don't know, ... hydraulic malfunction, or even the handle mechanical path just becoming detached from the control drum, etc, etc????
I know that flaps possition can quite conclusively be detected by looking at the gauges and indicators, but I guess I'm asking if it is "likely" or possible at all to lower a flaps handle "casually" to 11º on a MD-82 without giving it a second look (not looking at failure/deployment indicators/lights) and still have the flaps not extend.
I know it's a long shot to suspect an "inop flaps" flight at the exact same time an "inop TOWS" developed, but I just wanted to know if it was possible at all ... if actually the MD-82's flaps always have to necessarily come out when the lever is lowered or they can ever fail to come out without a halelluyah of a warning (i.e. much more than a blinking light in the corner of the eye).