Originally Posted by
JPJP
From the report - "The flap handle in the cockpit was observed in the 10 degree detent. FDR data indicated a flap setting of 20 degrees during the takeoff attempt." The disagreement between the flap handle position (10) and the flap setting during takeoff (20) is interesting. Does Gulfstream specify a flap setting prior to an evacuation ?
Although the cockpit section of the airframe appeared relatively intact in the post-crash photos, hard to say how much structural damage occurred inside, or how severe the deceleration forces were. The flap handle has a latch that locks it into place at each detent, but quite possible I suppose, that it could have been driven forward from 20 to 10 degrees in the crash - especially if it was hit by something from behind, or if the linkage below the flap handle broke off.
Would explain the initial mystery of why the crew seemingly chose to do a Flaps 10 takeoff, when conditions didn't really call for it. If the FDR record is accurate, it was a standard Flaps 20 departure after all.