Originally Posted by
RR_NDB
ChristiaanJ,
The separation of VS in both cases (AA587 and AF447) occurred at itīs "coupling" to the fuselage.
No it didn't. In AA587 as shown in your images, the VS structure was torn off the couplings.
In contrast, in AF447 the couplings did not fail and were still attached to the VS along with bits of the fuselage. The rear fuselage itself failed. BEA first report has images (P39):
http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2009/f-cp...90601e1.en.pdf