PJ2 & mm43
PJ2, thanks for the enlarged enhanced photos, prior to these, I was cautious about saying much about the engine that was photographed. So now, here is my observations about the engine:
1. The first photo depicts the central conical hub just aft of what would have been the fan blade rotor, in fact, the fan disk drive arm to attaches to this hub, but is gone. Also, the "A" roller thrust bearing is at this same location but is also gone.
2. With the exception of two visible by-pass guide vanes (one at 6 o'clock - the other at 1 o'clock), everything is generally missing forward of the one piece titanium fan frame. That includes fan booster blades and vanes (3 stages) forward of the fan frame.
3. It is possible that a portion of the fan frame (7 o'clock to 12 o'clock) is missing.
4. In the second engine photo, I think the white (shiny) tube that curves around the top, just aft of the conical hub is the "A" oil feed line to the "A" bearing.
5. In the second engine photo, all of the active clearance control tubing is stripped from the LPT module casing, at least on the visible side.
6. The engine orientation sitting on the sea bed appears to be resting on its side as I think that part accessory gear box is visible behind the fan frame.
7. I fully agree with
mm43's assessment that the engine hit the sea bed LPT module end first. With all of the fan, fan casing, kevlar fan containment, booster vanes & blades missing, the rear of the engine would be much heavier than the remaining front end.
According to the BEA interim report, the aircraft hit the water with a high vertical rate of speed, a lesser forward motion in a slight bank orientation with a pitch upward. Depending on what is meant by "slight bank," the engine on the low wing would be first to hit the water. My thoughts for discussion would be that the engine was torn from the left wing pylon (engine sits ahead of the wing). Could the structure being seen in front of the wing be the most forward part of the pylon bent around to the left and twisted rather than the internals of the slats?
Machaca & Shadoko, thanks for all the great photos and diagrams
