mm43
Not a pipe, in the conduit sense, it is a Torque Link. Both these struts were severed by the exiting HE Debris. See the mates above, at the pylon cleat. These features prevent yaw of the engine. They snub each attempt in tension/compression, as a pair.
The separation of the Disc from the Drive Arm would allow freespool, surely, but not without instantaneous consequences, imo. The Rim of the Disc is aligned with, and short of, the Platform for attachment of Guide Vanes on the Stator. The rim would rub the Platform, but the loose bore of the broken Wheel permits "Elliptical" rotation, something that would shear the Blades of the IT off immediately. The fact is, as the Drive Arm is contacting the Stator, the rim is contacting the Platform. This contact may have happened prior to the Circumferential fracture at the Drive Arm. There is no way of knowing at this point the exact progression of the fail. I do believe that since the Blades would shear instantaneously in either case, overspeed did not progress far, if at all. This makes one think of the consequence of instant unloading of the IPLP barrel, and forward. Who needs a Stall?? The debris and damage shows remarkable scarcity aft of the Stator. Most everything appears to have been blown out the gaps in the case in a forward direction.
Last edited by bearfoil; 29th December 2010 at 20:27.