Word: runways
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There have been few heroes in the distressing developments since the accident. The primary issue throughout has been why the left engine on the three-engine jetliner literally took off on its own as the 120-ton airplane was rising from the runway at O'Hare. The four-ton engine, exerting a thrust of 40,000 Ibs., had ripped away with the pylon that attached it to the wing. Climbing, the engine apparently tore into the wing, severing at least two of the three hydraulic pressure lines embedded near the forward edge. The loss of the engine, its hydraulic...
...days, the NTSB put all of the blame on a broken bolt that searchers found beside the runway. It was one of five that held the pylon to the wing, and officials thought it had snapped because of "metal fatigue"-the progressive weakening that results from repeated stress. One investigator even christened it "the murdering bolt." But electron microscope studies showed the bolt had been broken by a sudden, violent strain. Meanwhile, a crack had been found in the plate that formed the aft bulkhead...
Investigators theorize that as the plane rolled down the runway, the pylon wiggled and vibrated far more than normal. Why is not yet known; the cracks in the plate may have caused-or been caused by-the vibration. In any case, the stress snapped the rear "attach" bolt and it fell out. The remaining bolts could not hold the 20 tons of thrust being generated by the General Electric CF6 engine. It yanked itself and the pylon loose from the wing and took...
...back in. Now, the undamaged right wing, flaps still extended and engine still thrusting, had more lift than the left. It rose rapidly until it was perpendicular to the ground. At that terrifying angle, the DC-10 lost airspeed and plunged into a field half a mile from the runway...
...controller in the tower knew that something was wrong. "Do you want to come back?" he radioed the pilot. There was no answer. Captain Lux and his crew were far too busy. The aircraft's left turbofan engine had broken out of its moorings and fallen onto the runway. Normally the loss of one engine's power would not have been fatal; the aircraft is designed to function on just two engines even during takeoff...