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CHANGE NOTE TO EDITORS:
NASA Langley to evaluate Flight 587 tail assembly
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has asked
NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., to aid in the
ongoing investigation into the November 12, 2001, crash of American
Airlines Flight 587 in Belle Harbor, New York.
Components from the tail section of the Airbus A300 are being
shipped to NASA Langley for extensive evaluation.
The parts are now due to arrive at 10:00 am, Tuesday,
December 4. At that time, a NASA Langley spokesperson will be
available for interviews outside the main gate.
The vertical stabilizer and rudder parts are made of a carbon
fiber reinforced epoxy, a composite material. The Safety Board is
attempting to determine why these components separated in
flight.
NASA Langley was chosen by the NTSB because of its recognized
expertise and extensive experience with composite materials and
structures for civilian and military aircraft and spacecraft
applications.
Due to security policies and the nature and sensitivity of this
investigation, NASA Langley will not comment on the testing methods
and any findings. All questions about the investigation should be
directed to the NTSB at (202) 314-6100.
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