PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Wake Turbulence / Structural Damage Studies - AA 587
Old 16th November 2001 | 11:45
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Zeke
 
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Due to the short time period witnesses have said it took for the aircraft to begin to self-destruct in flight, I am inclined to think that the aircraft broke up as a result of some flutter mode, possibly involving the engines.

Passing through the wake of a 747 in itself would not cause the failure of the primary control surfaces, however a aeroelastic effects induced as a result of exciting the airframe at a particular frequency may.

If the aircraft was found to have passed through the wake of a 747 it may have induced an unknown flutter mode which could lead to a rapid self destruction.

IMHO it will be a very long drawn out investigation.

Genghis do you have any thoughts on this theory ?

Z
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