From Post Article:
‘so far the plane's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have revealed no definitive cause for the rare high-altitude disintegration.’
The cracks raise two questions for investigative and regulatory agencies from Taiwan and the United States: First, were they the initiating event in the crash?
So far, several sources said, the cracks appear to be a one-time event, but not enough wreckage has been recovered from the ocean floor yet to make a final determination.
The 747 also has experienced trouble with cracks in the area of its forward door, but not at the rear of the aircraft. The cracking around the forward door has been handled with regular inspections and repairs to tiny cracks before they can grow bigger.
© 2002 The Washington Post Company
Hot dog> So much for your theory of cargo door midspan latch failure fixation Barry. Back to the drawing board!
Well, that attitude of writing off the cargo door without evidence is what has happened for 17 years, starting with Air India Flight 182, a ‘rare high-altitude disintegration” a phrase which should send chills through crews and passengers. And not so rare, six of these solo breakups have occurred out of about 35 hull losses.
Anyway, the door information in the Post article is ambiguous, as always, when it comes to doors. Is the article referring specifically to China Airlines Flight 611 and its ‘cracking around the forward cargo door?’ When Firehorse referred to the bulk cargo door missing, which door did he mean? Which door was found floating?
This article specifically states that the cracks may have been not the initiating event.
As it turns out, based on this new evidence, it appears the initial hull rupture occurred aft of the wing. China Airlines Flight 611 had a previous tail strike repaired which mimics JAL 123, an aft pressure hull rupture event. The sudden sound was not loud. And there is no reports of hull ruptures forward of the wing.
Too soon to rule in metal fatigue, the new boss same as the old boss starting with Comet, and too soon to rule out aft cargo door rupture or aft pressure bulkhead failure.
Note that the 747 is designed to withstand many cracks, small holes, and small ruptures such as have been described.
Also note the insult of term ‘fixation’ directed at me by Hotdog, another typical response by the arrogant and uninformed.