Pieces falling off in flight is somewhat disconcerting to the passengers.

Wasn't likely a major structural part, but it all adds a little to the strength.

Wonder if one could even tell it was missing by the flight controls.

http://www.thedenverchannel.co...ds-safely-in-atlanta

IF the TI's (or whatever airlines call them) check that so well what else did they miss when signing off

Back during school days another metallurgy classmate and I took a flight.Ice formed on the wings and we calmly discussed fatigue failures for such a situation. If anyone heard and understood us they would have panicked.

Mohawk Airlines had for a while a European made turboprop plane .The props would fly off and into the plane .No one was ever hit but they retired the planes !

quote:

Originally posted by TCLouis:
Wasn't likely a major structural part, but it all adds to the strength.

Wonder if one could even tell it was missing by the flight controls

http://www.thedenverchannel.co...ds-safely-in-atlanta

Looks like an access panel no biggie from a structural standpoint. But scary in appearance all the same.

Is that hydraulic fluid mist I see coming from a broken line on the right hand side of the photo?

quote:

Originally posted by Bobster:
Is that hydraulic fluid mist I see coming from a broken line on the right hand side of the photo?

Hard to say from the photo.

Seems to me that's what caused the Concorde crash in Paris. A piece fell off on the runway from a previously taking off aircraft and ended up puncturing the fuel tank.

Grizz