Again with the fin!
Ok everyone seems convinced that the fin departed on impact with the water. I still ask - why? Most of the claimed evidence seems to be of the sort "nothing else could so tear up the supporting structure" - but do we know that? Composite materials fail explosively as the tremendous locked-in stress energy of the layered and bonded materials is released - so there is plenty of energy around to do a lot of damage. Also - there are no scores, scuffs, or other marks on the fin to indicate it collided with any of the rest of the disintegrating structure - why? We would have maybe the only case ever of complete destruction of an airframe without significant exterior damage to one of its largest members.
Perhaps I am being dense, but I fail to see how everyone can be so certain.
edit: yes I am aware of the notch taken out of the lower end of the rudder - something to be expected if the fin departed rearward in flight! Of course that will show on the tail cone should it be found.
Last edited by deSitter; 12th Apr 2011 at 07:18.