Barry,
Youre picture of the TWA cargo door & the report show that the door was latched at its lower edge. As i have said before, the midspan latches cannot turn unless the lower eight are driven open by the actuator first, as the actuator drives the lower eight latches torque tube and then the midspan. All latches have to operate for the midspan to turn. Basic mechanics; if a torque tube cannot turn then it cannot transmit its drive. - fact not fiction.
The lower eight were still latched & locked, therefore there is no way for the midspan to turn.
Also for any electrical power to get to the latch actuator you would need this sequence of events;
Aircraft on the ground, Air/ground prox switch made, Power available to Ground Handling Bus. (if the aircraft had gone into ground mode the FDR would pick it up)
Manual latch handle opened; gives indication in cockpit, allows power to go cargo door opening switch, (All lower latches were latched &locked so handle was not opened)
Switch operated - actuator turns all eight lower & mechanical linkage from the lower eight torque tube drives the midspan.
(the lower eight were still latched and locked so no mechanical drive able to get to the midspan latches)
Also on TWA the Nose section 41 seperated at its production joint at Body Station 520. the forward edge of the cargo door frame is at Body station 560, 40 inches behind the production joint. Your photo of the TWA door shows that 40 innches of metal still there, if your door had come open causing the nose to rip off, then that metal would not have been present.
