In addition, without the
vertical stabilizer, the mass and inertia data of the damaged aircraft are going to change, where the values that reflect such a scenario (for the damaged aircraft) are listed in Table 2.
The HF-2 antenna on the starboard side separated at the
vertical stabilizer, then departed from the empennage and wrapped around the horizontal stabilizer.
Vertical stabilizers and rudders are rarely stalled even during abnormal flight.
Damage to the
vertical stabilizer and rudder was consistent with loading to the left (when looking forward).
The inspection revealed signs that internal layers of the carbon-reinforced composite fin, or
vertical stabilizer, had begun to separate from each other at one of six points where the component connects to the tail section of the fuselage.
The impact-damaged rudder was attached to the
vertical stabilizer at its hinge points; the stabilator was attached to its mounting blocks.
The nose radome suffered damage from the whipping hose and valve, and the carbon-fiber cover that protects the receivers in the
vertical stabilizer had a hole through it.
The investigators are continuing work on the aircraft's
vertical stabilizer and rudder and have removed small samples from the stabilizer in preparation for destructive testing next week.
The pilot told Scott that the upper 2/3 of the
vertical stabilizer and rudder were missing and that it required full left aileron to maintain control.
United Airlines claims to have discovered evidence of a flaw in the
vertical stabilizer on one of its Airbus A320 aircraft.
The final pass was to be conducted inverted, and the airplane would cut the ribbon with its
vertical stabilizer. The first two passes were successful, but on the third (inverted, ribbon-cut) pass, the airplane was too high, and did not cut the ribbon.
I cautiously flew behind and then to the other side of my wingman to get a better look and relay what I could see of his damaged
vertical stabilizer. I asked him to check my a aircraft for damage.
