Originally Posted by Machinbird
If AF447 had stacked into the water on its nose, there would be some deceleration of the bits from the rear of the AC by virtue of whatever columnar stiffness the fuselage provided and they would generally be less damaged than bits from the nose, but there is another factor in play that would increase the average degree of damage.
Bear in mind that the upper portion of the radome was found, (Interim report 1, p35-36) and by the photo, while heavily damaged, it isn't fragmented/shattered but in a contiguous section. That it was even found would be remarkable if not impossible in any high forward speed entry.