Originally Posted by
ozaub
SWH - the tailplane was loaded 47% beyond ultimate, i.e. over twice limit load.
I don't believe that for a second, the tail does not have a singular load case. There are load cases for flight control inputs, gust response, ground loads etc.
On any aircraft there are literally thousands of different load cases.
An individual ultimate load case maybe exceeded without causing damage due to an additional margin of safety that case has inherited by meeting the requirements for a different limiting load case.
For example a flight control ultimate load case maybe less than the minimum weight gust response ultimate load case. Aircraft are designed so that the limiting case has a 150% safety factor.
If the limiting ultimate load case was exceeded it would result in failure.