Air France tail found. Wow looks like a clean break....

[Lear70]

I thought the AA A300 broke down where it was mounted to the fuselage. This looks like it sheared off well above the mountings.

It did and yes, it does.

I'd like to know where the tail section was found in proximity to bodies and aircraft debris...

IF it came off in flight, there's no telling how far away the rest of the tail section (and the CVR / FDR are at), although I'm sure they can draw some estimates based on altitude of the aircraft in cruise, maximum glide range (assuming it didn't just corkscrew straight down at that point) if the vert stab came off first and the rest of the aicraft didn't come completely apart when the vert stab came off, and drift speed of ocean currents.

If the vert stab separated when it hit the water (and the tail was close to the area of bodies recovered), they might have a pretty good chance at finding the FDR and CVR.

 

[180ToTheMarker]

02:10Z:
Autothrust off
Autopilot off
FBW alternate law
Rudder Travel Limiter Fault
TCAS fault due to antenna fault
Flight Envelope Computation warning
All pitot static ports lost

Whoa...hand flying thru severe wx and turbulence without rudder protection (I assume)....makes you go hmm...

 

[fly4surf]

Maybe 'they' knew we would go hmmm.....

and blame a heavy footed and incorrect pressure on the pedals again?

Instead of what it really is (or seems to be.)

 

[PHXFLYR]

...and everyone at work wonders why I wish we had Boeings .....

PHXFLYR

 

[Abernathy]

Maybe 'they' knew we would go hmmm.....

and blame a heavy footed and incorrect pressure on the pedals again?

Instead of what it really is (or seems to be.)

Or maybe not. What aim would terrorists achieve if they never took responsibility for an action and no one knew it was an act of terrorism...

Doesn't make any sense for this to be terrorism.

 

[fly4surf]

Didn't say terrorism.

How about capitalism,
Where money talks....

 

[BushwickBill]

Or maybe not. What aim would terrorists achieve if they never took responsibility for an action and no one knew it was an act of terrorism...

Doesn't make any sense for this to be terrorism.

Sometimes I wonder if we are all speaking the same language.

 

[spitfire1500]

Post deleted.....since I just caught myself speculating before the facts are in.

 

[Linedriver]

I don't fly an Airbus but I hear that the guys that do fly it, like it. However, it appears the thing is too automated - two down in just a few months - and now the structural design is in question. I never did buy the idea that a foot happy f/o brought down an airliner!

Boeing stock is up 10% since this crash.

I know what I won't be bidding - when I get the chance!

 

[spitfire1500]

I don't fly an Airbus but I hear that the guys that do fly it, like it. However, it appears the thing is too automated - two down in just a few months - and now the structural design is in question. I never did buy the idea that a foot happy f/o brought down an airliner!

Boeing stock is up 10% since this crash.

I know what I won't be bidding - when I get the chance!

Boeing stock is up because the 787 flight test program is projected to start this month.

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

I believe the perspective is off in that otherwise stellar overlay that someone did. The pictures of the tail in the ocean seem to throw off the perspective quite a bit. Very good effort, though.

It appears (when looking at other pictures of AF 330s) that it did broke off lower down and at the approximate attach points.

All speculation, obviously....but this will be a key point in the investigation if it did break off at the attach points.

 

[crj567]

Both the 330 and 300 are composite. What will be tell-tale is where the vert stab/rudder is located in proximity to the rest of the wreckage.

Then you end up with the question of whether the accident was causedby it separating or whether the already dying/dead airplane caused the tail to separate.... or whether it was just sheered off when it impacted the water.

Regardless.... that is a super clean break and the rudder even remained intact.

Good point-

I noticed that the rudder was still attached as well. I'll bet they will be able to figure out pretty quickly how it came apart. I do hope they can find the FDR. The tail may have come off for several reasons, but I sure would like to see if that prior problem with one of the pitot tubes could have had something to do with it.

 

[OO pilot]

...and everyone at work wonders why I wish we had Boeings .....

PHXFLYR

I do recall two 737s going down due to rudder problems.
I don't think one manufacturer has it perfect on everything.

 

[OurMoney1]

It is unlikely that they will be able to gleam much info from this piece alone. One piece of a puzzle doesn't paint a picture. What they need is the magic boxes and the worlds most talented deep sea salvige teams will be on scene in a few short hours;
The Navy.

 

[FR8mastr]

I do recall two 737s going down due to rudder problems.
I don't think one manufacturer has it perfect on everything.

I agree, but someone should tell Airbus, ALL their problems are always pilot error, sometimes like in Toronto its airport error.