TWA 800 & Wire Problems

From: Ian Goddard (igoddard@netkonnect.net)
Date: Mon May 25 1998 - 12:40:47 MDT


At 12:36 AM 5/23/98 -0700, Hara Ra wrote:

>After all the ballyhoo regarding TWA Flight 800, especially
>by Ian Goddard, I note with some irony that the FAA has been
>inspecting jets with similar construction (ie, power and signal
>cables in the center fuel tank) and GUESS WHAT! A number of
>inspected planes have faulty wiring, some with arc burns which
>holed the conduit in the fuel tank, many with chafed wiring
>exposing the conductor, etc.

  IAN: Those wire problems have been found only in
  737s and NOT 747s, as reports have indicated [*]:

        "The FAA said on May 14 it was giving airlines
        45 days to examine 737s. . . The FAA said it
        took the action after analyzing the results
        of 195 inspections so far which found at least
        nine bare wires where the insulation had com-
        pletely worn away. The 737 is the world's most
        numerous airliner with more than 2,772 worldwide."

  I just got word from a 747 mechanic that the pro-
  blem has only been found in 737s because 747 wires
  are "sheathed in teflon and they have not found the
  chafed condition." TWA 800 was a 747, not a 737.

  Furthermore, consider that if the wires in 737s
  have been arching, causing the burning indicated,
  which could cause fuel to leak and be exposed to
  to the conductor, then why are not 737s exploding
  left and right??! Because the Jet A-1 fuel is so
  safe it does not explode, as stated previously.

[*] REUTERS: Boeing recommends 747 fuel tank inspections. (5/25/98):
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/business/story.html?s=z/reuters/980525/
business/stories/boeing_2.html

  Some media source, such as CNN, have failed to
  mention that the problem has only been found in
  737s, and careful frame the story as if it were
  evidence of the cause of the TWA-800 747 crash:
  http://cnn.com/US/9805/22/boeing.reut/index.html

>We may dislike the system, but sometimes it works, you know.

  IAN: It's dangerous not to second guess "the system."
  Unskeptical acceptance of authorities leads to tyranny.

**************************************************************
VISIT IAN WILLIAMS GODDARD --------> http://Ian.Goddard.net
______________________________________________________________

  "A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its
 opponents and making them see the light, but rather because
  its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows
   up that is familiar with the idea from the beginning."

                 Max Plank - Nobel physicist

     "The smallest minority on earth is the individual.
       Those who deny individual rights cannot claim
         to be defenders of minorities." Ayn Rand

 



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