Does anyone know if the Aft E&E bay is accessible from the cabin, i.e., in flight? From Page 8 of the report:
"This compartment is located aft of the main landing gear and beneath approximately the third set of cabin doors (L3 and R3). The compartment is only accessible from the ground by a door in the aft cargo compartment and a set of doors in the airplane belly."
The second sentence is ambiguous on this point. Is it "only accessible from the ground"? Or "from the ground (only accessible) by a door in the aft cargo compartment and a set of doors in the belly"?
And how about the Forward bay?
The aft EE bay is only accessible when the a/c is on the ground.
Either through a hatch in the belly (this is the normal maintenance route).
OR
Via the aft cargo hold through a door in the partition wall between the aft cargo hold and the EE bay.
Of course if the hold is full of pallets/cans etc that is a no go.
The fwd EE bay is accessed either through a hatch in the lower fwd fuselage or from the cabin through a hatch in the floor. Ergo, it can be accessed in flight.