sd666 - if you could point to something I might examine, I'd be grateful. The main point is - when composites fail under stress, they release enormous energy in the form of elastic shock waves into the surrounding structures. These would dissipate with distance and would be confined to the areas around the attach points. The effect would be explosive in every sense, and in fact the CVR of 587 recorded a very loud bang heard all the way on the other end of the aircraft.