What did she make for dinner? W Wilson wrote: > SEATTLE, April 26 (Reuters) - Federal investigators have concluded Alaska > Airlines' failure to lubricate a key part on an MD-80 jetliner contributed > to its fatal crash 2 years ago, according to Friday's edition of the Seattle > Times. > > In a closed meeting on Wednesday, National Transportation Safety Board > experts rejected Seattle-based Alaska's theory that the grease, recommended > by jet-maker Boeing Co. (BA), actually corroded the part, the paper > reported. > > Lab tests presented at the NTSB meeting showed no evidence that corrosion > caused by grease contributed to the crash, the paper reported, citing two > unidentified people who were present during the review. > > If true, the NTSB decision could focus the blame on Alaska, which has been > accused of poorly maintaining the jackscrew driving the tail-mounted > horizontal stabilizer on the MD-80 that crashed off the California coast, > killing all 88 on board. > > Alaska officials called the story "incorrect," saying grease-related tests > were continuing and that the NTSB had not drawn any conclusions. > > NTSB rules prohibit public discussion of ongoing investigations, the airline > added. > > A key flight control component, the two-foot-long (0.6 meter) jackscrew on > the doomed jet was found lacking sufficient grease and wrapped in metal > strands that peeled off a gimbal nut through which it passed. > > Investigators have scrutinized Alaska maintenance records and the airline's > decision not to replace the jackscrew in 1997 when a regular check found it > was approaching its wear limit. > > The airline retested the part and found it was well within the wear limit > and chose not to replace the part, which can reportedly cost up to $60,000. > > ©2002 Reuters Limited.