On that fateful Tuesday afternoon, the world watched as 100 passengers boarded the Concorde, the fastest commercial plane in existence. Little did they know that this would be the last flight for this iconic aircraft.
Contents
The Tragic Accident
At 2:34 pm, Air France Flight 4590 received clearance to take off from runway 26R at Charles De Gualle airport in Paris. As the plane accelerated down the runway, tragedy struck. A loud crash resonated from the left-wing, followed by billowing flames. Moments later, the Concorde crashed into a nearby hotel.
The Investigation Begins
The investigators faced a daunting task. The crash site was engulfed in flames, leaving behind a scattered debris field. But they were determined to piece together what had happened. They meticulously organized the accident site, finding clues that would unravel the cause of the accident.
Uncovering the Clues
The investigators found the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, known as the black boxes. These devices provided valuable data and audio recordings of the plane’s final moments. They also discovered a mysterious titanium strip with irregular drilled holes and an unscorched piece of the plane.
Connecting the Dots
The investigators delved into maintenance and engineering documentation, searching for any plane that took off after 1:00 pm. They found a maintenance document referencing a metallic wear strip on a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 servicing a Continental flight that departed just minutes before the Concorde. The missing wear strip on the DC-10 matched the irregular drilled holes of the titanium strip found at the crash site.
The Cause Unveiled
The investigators concluded that the Continental flight had dropped its wear strip on the runway, which then caused a tire on the Concorde to burst. The force of the burst tire hitting the underside of the wing created a deformation in the fuel tank, leading to a rupture and a massive fuel leak. This catastrophic loss of power resulted in the plane’s uncontrollable descent and the subsequent fiery crash.
The Aftermath
Following a decade-long legal battle between Air France and Continental, a court ruling fined Continental 1 million euros. Modifications were made to the Concorde, such as adding Kevlar liners to the fuel tanks and relocating and reinforcing potential ignition sources. However, these efforts couldn’t save the financially struggling Concorde. The crash became the final blow, leading to the cancellation of the supersonic flying programs by both British Airways and Air France.
FAQs
Q: How fast was the Concorde?
A: The Concorde was the fastest commercial plane, reaching speeds of up to Mach 2, or around 1,354 miles per hour.
Q: How many tire malfunctions did the Concorde experience?
A: During its 30-year program, the Concorde experienced 57 tire malfunctions, with 22 occurring during takeoff.
Q: Was this the first time a burst tire caused a fuel leak?
A: No, the Concorde had experienced burst tires before. However, previous incidents did not result in a catastrophic fire like the one seen on Flight 4590.
Conclusion
The Concorde crash on that fateful day was a devastating event that marked the end of an era. The investigation into the accident revealed a chain of events that ultimately led to the tragic loss of this iconic aircraft. Despite efforts to make modifications and improvements, the financial viability of the Concorde was no longer feasible. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety and continuous improvement in the field of aviation.
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