Page:CAB Accident Report, TWA Flight 891.pdf/31

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Within the degree of reliability commensurate with the conditions and quantity of the structural parts that were recovered, the inspection failed to disclose anyr concrete and significant evidence which might support the existence, or the develop—

ment during the plane's normal flight, of abnormal conditions which could have been either the direct or the indirect cause

of the accident.

0f the three main doors giving access to the plane, only the crew entrance door was found intact; the front entrance door was found broken into two parts; the rear door was almost completer destroyed by the fire. The lock on each of them was in the closed position.

Of the five emergency exit doors, three were recovered; because of their condition, it could not be ascertained whether they had been properly blocked. The other two were destroyed by the fire. The outer door of the rear service area, having become separated from the plane following the disintegration of tank No. 7, was found along the path of fall of the wreckage; it showed no sign of fire.

Of the six inspection ports beneath tank Ito. 7, two were

found together with the fuselage; the other four became separated from the plane in flight following the disintegration of the tank No. 7 above them and fell to the ground up course from the main wreckage. None of these four doors showed anyr sign of fire.

Most of the window frames were recovered; thoso missuig were destroyed by the flames. All the glass was shattered and none of it was recovered.

The front landing wheel assemny was found in a retracted position. As to the front compartment of the hydraulic system, see per. 11.2.3.5 - "Hydraulic system."

11-203I3I

The left wing was recovered in two large sections and numerous medimn- and small—size pieces, all of them damaged by the impact with the ground and by fire.

The largest section, comprised between stations 2665. [and] h875., conSisted primarily of cowling No. l, the rear spar and. the trailing edge, complete with its flap in the retracted peeition, and several panels of various ones.

The second section, Smaller than and fitting against that described above, extended up to station No. 109.51.; the

trailing edge was complete, with its flap in the retracted position.