On Mar 11, 2007, at 7:30 PM, Gerard M Foley wrote: > I'll have to admit the composite vertical stabilizer fell off that > AA A300 Airbus over Jamaica Bay, though. The comprehensive analysis exonerated the composites. The proximate cause of the accident was excessive rudder input by the FO, with a contributing cause being the design of the rudder system. The NTSB press release said, "The Board found that the composite material used in constructing the vertical stabilizer was not a factor in the accident because the tail failed well beyond its certificated and design limits." -- Michael C. Berch (fan of composite aircraft) mcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx