Although I can see how the thread story led you to that erroneous conclusion, it is, nonetheless, incorrect.
The NTSB announcement dealt only with the flaw in the velocity response of the actuator control limiter system. Nobody has ever suggested that the velocity response flaw was at fault in the AA-587 crash.
But the NTSB announcement does relate to the AA-587 crash, in that it offers another example of an Airbus design flaws that can lead to (an almost did in a separate incident) the separation of the vertical stabilizer from the aircraft.
While he NTSB has not issued a final conclusion as to the cause of the AA-587 accident, nevertheless, documents the NTSB have publicly posted say that the tail fin tore loose after the pilot moved the rudder sharply back and forth several times.
In other words, while the velocity response fault of the limiter system may not have been the cause of the AA-587 crash, the NTSB will likely conclude that is was another aspect of the limiter system that was at fault.
--Boot Hill
Speculation. I live in the area. The local news had a van on the scene in no time. The response was still in very early stage. Belle Harbor is a haven for multi-generations of mostly Irish NYPD and FDNY members. A few who were either off duty or retired were interviewed live at the scene. I remember it well. These very reliable types all spoke of seeing flames past the mid section while the plane was in the air.
For days before the Feds were warning us that something big was about to happen. When it did they rushed to tell us it was a design flaw, but they didn't ground the hundreds of other similar planes.
I am no conspiracy theorist but I'll take the word of a retired FDNY Lt. eyewitness on this one.