Inquiry May Focus on Engine Explosion, Experts say GE models have had problems in the past

NY Newsday ^ | November 13, 2001 | Sylvia Adcock, Lauren Terrazzano and Tom McGinty

[Fixit]

It was less than three minutes after the wheels of the Airbus lifted from the Kennedy Airport runway that the wide-body jet plunged into the ground from 2,800 feet.

It could take weeks or months to find out why. But the evidence so far points to a midair mechanical failure so sudden that the cockpit crew of American Flight 587 had no chance to make a distress call. Investigators are expected to focus on catastrophic engine failure.

[Fixit]

A bit like other articles on this topic, but it includes some other past incidents that I have not seen listed elsewhere.

[Clinton's a rapist]

Yesterday's spin. The NTSB now say that they are "puzzled" by the wide dispersal of the wreckage, and they cannot explain how the aircraft's tail came off. There are now "more questions than answers" in the investigation.

[jlogajan]

now "more questions than answers"

Odd how I don't actually find that quote in the article itself. Making quotes up, ehy?

[Magician]

If an engine disintegrated as the initial event it will be very quickly apparent. Both engines came down on terra firma. It would take an experienced NTSB person about five minutes to determine if the engine had failed in flight.

[Fixit]

It would take an experienced NTSB person about five minutes to determine if the engine had failed in flight.

And three years to get around to finally announcing the conclusions of their investigation.

[Clinton's a rapist]

Heard it on an NPR radio news bulletin this morning.

[jlogajan]

Okay, I retract my snippy remark. :-)