Originally Posted by PJ2
This is the left main gear and inboard section of the [left] wing; the structure to the far right is the pylon mount for the left engine.
PJ2,
I know how familiar you are with the airplane and have never been near it myself. My comment was based on the lower wing skin visible just to the right of the upper end of the MLG leg, that is in the way of retracting the gear towards the right. If you are right, then it must be a wheel well door, since the gear retracts towards the fuselage. If that is a door, then it being in closed position would be counter to the theory that the gear was released from the uplock due to impact forces. Are you sure the structure to the far right is not a flap track (*)?
regards,
HN39
PS: (*)BEA Interim Report #2 has photographs of flap track 3 on pp.20-21