Posted on 11/07/2002 4:27:52 PM PST by Asmodeus
Certain airplane fuel residues can conduct electricity and cause passenger jet fuel tanks to explode, researchers said Thursday. The finding might help prevent deadly explosions like the one that destroyed TWA Flight 800 in 1996.
The finding was part of a three-year, $800,000 study commissioned by the Federal Aviation Administration and carried out in part by researchers at the University of Dayton Research Institute.
TWA 800 exploded over the Atlantic Ocean off the New York coast on July 17, 1996. All 230 people died in the accident. Government investigators determined the accident was caused by an explosion of the center wing fuel tank.
The university announced Thursday that residues that form in the presence of low-sulfur jet fuel, silver-coated surfaces and water conduct electricity and can ignite jet fuel when exposed to even low levels of electricity.
Robert Kauffman, a UDRI research chemist, said the findings don't reveal the definitive cause of the explosion that brought down TWA 800. But the research points out potential hazards that are being addressed by the FAA.
"In a situation like TWA 800, you try to find three or four plausible scenarios and see if they're possible," Kauffman said. "If they are, you do everything possible to stop them from happening, whether they caused the accident or not."
Kauffman said investigators found conductive residues on wires recovered from the TWA 800 accident site and also concluded that there was a low-power energy source on the plane that could have caused the ignition in the tank if it came into contact with the residues.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators haven't pinpointed what ignited the Boeing 747's fuel tank. But a report from the agency concluded that whatever triggered the explosion likely entered the tank through wiring for its fuel quantity indication system.
The NTSB's report further states that, "Although it is possible that the release of ignition energy inside the (tank) was facilitated by the existence of silver-sulfide deposits on an FQIS component, neither the energy release mechanism nor the location of the ignition inside the (tank) could be determined from the available evidence."
At least two other aircraft have experienced center wing fuel tank explosions in the last 12 years. In 1990, a Philippines Airlines 737 plane exploded while being pushed back from the gate. Last year, a Thailand Airlines 737 plane blew up while standing at the gate.
Kauffman's research found that fuel residues found on terminal blocks from fuel tanks contained silver or silver oxides with an outer layer of fuel gums. The residues were found on terminal blocks outfitted with silver-plated nuts.
Further testing showed that low-sulfur fuels react with silver or silver oxide to create what Kauffman called conductive residue.
"We found we could use really low power and could actually get these deposits to glow and ignite fuel," Kauffman said.
UDRI and Arizona State University conducted the study as subcontractors for SRI International, a Menlo Park, Calif., nonprofit independent research institute.
Michael McKrube, who co-authored the study, said high-sulfur fuels clean away the residues. As the use of environmentally friendly low-sulfur fuels widens, he worries about the safety ramifications for aircraft, he said. Such fuels are commonly used in Europe and Asia.
It was unclear whether TWA 800 or two other aircraft which experienced explosions in their center-wing tanks were carrying high- or low-sulfur fuel, McKrube said.
Kauffman said an Environmental Protection Agency mandate will require the use of low-sulfur fuels in the U.S. by 2005.
Kauffman said he wants to continue studying the correlation between low-sulfur fuels and aircraft accidents. Some potential solutions, he said, include sensors that alert aircraft personnel to the presence of low-sulfur fuels on planes and the creation of additives that reduce the fuel's volatility.
In the second case, three people are charged with trying to sell heroin and hashish to buy four shoulder-fired Stinger anti-aircraft missiles for the al-Qaida terror network. An indictment says the al-Qaida link was provided by the suspects themselves.
The airlines seem to change their air routes quite a bit.
It is well-documented that any researcher who comes up with evidence disproving global warming will never get another NSF grant. A physics professor at my alma mater confided to me that whenever he applied for a grant he already had the research done and the paper written.
When an agency pays for research it is paying to get the results it wants. Someday when you get real job you'll see things differently.
You apparently wish to discuss TWA 800, because you posted an article allegedly on the subject. But now you are trying to change the suhject as noted above. Why would you raise a topic only to try to divert attention from it? Other than for disinformation, I see no other reason.
There aren't any "shootdown" witnesses, just some conspiracy theorist amateur witness report analysts. That's why there are no experienced trial lawyers among those making the "missile witnesses" allegations.
None of the "shootdown" conspiracy theorists' websites include a sequential timeline of the events and only Swordmaker has ever published one (here in FreeRepublic) but it is in irreconcilable conflict with the reports of the three Star "shootdown" witnesses. His effort can be reviewed in its entirety here. If you or any other "shootdown" conspiracy theorist believe you can prepare a sequential timeline that supports the "shootdown" notion, give it a try - and you'll find it can't be done.
Aside from that, TEN metallurgists found no evidence of a missile shootdown (or bomb) in the wreckage. Click here. Which is why there are no experienced trial lawyers among those making the "shootdown" allegations.
As the Church Lady says, how convieeeeeenient.
Meanwhile, you ignore the other points I raised.
They are - when they're full or nearly topped off.
I recall reading - although I don't know where - that TWA800 was fully fueled only on the outboard tanks because it was traveling west to east and the jetstream allows fuel loading to be considerably less - meaning more capacity for revenue producing cargo/passengers.
On a flight I was on from HKG to LAX, we were loaded with 531 passengers and crew and at FL390, we took a tailwind of 200mph which briefly pushed the 747-400 to 702 cgs. The jetstream's assistance and company revenues are probable reasons TWA800's CFT was not topped off.
Unless copies of the fuel laden sheet is made public, we may never know just how much fuel was in the CFT, but I'd say, off-hand, less than 1/2 to 3/4 - which would hold ample space for the accumulation of oxidized fuel (vapor) to facilitate an explosion, esp. when heated and under pressure....
Regards,
Az
It is simply amazing that you spew this stuff thinking that nobody will notice. When will you EVER give it up Asmodeus? What IS your intense interest in erasing history?
For some REAL facts concerning the metallurogical analysis, look at what the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) have to say...
Ah, but ARAP produced a witness recreation of what both witness Gipe and Angelides had seen..
Full 10 minute Streaming Video recreation of witnesses Gipe and Angelides view of the crash
Asmodeus makes a good comedian at times. I think he's actually a standup comic at night. He really needs to work on his punch lines though...
Perhaps we should all take a deep breath and ask ourselves whether it is better that we analyze what has happened and know the truth, or believe in falsehoods in order to assist someone start WWIII? WHY would we want a World War III? Have you ever been in combat? Do you think it would be a good thing? If ANYTHING, we should be looking into EVERY single nook and cranny in order to AVOID it, not pursue it.
There are MANY ways we could prevent terrorist from carrying out their acts of terror. One MAJOR problem we have is the policies that have been adopted that ENCOURAGE illegal aliens to enter our country on work visas. Many times, foreign companies apply for MANY more visas than they need. What exactly they do with these extra visas is anyone's guess, BUT, one wouldn't have to stretch very far in order to see that a visa on the blackmarket might be a very lucrative ticket into the US for a terrorist. Immigration laws are NOT enforced in relation to this problem. It is just asking for trouble, and it is curious that we have such a lack of enforcement when politicians clamour for "homeland security" and insist that war is the only solution.
Hmmmm. Let me see. If it's an aircraft design flaw or an aircraft maintenance problem, our trial lawyer can bring a product liability suit or a negligence action and recover millions from the airline and/or aircraft manufacturer. If a missile shot the plane down, our trial lawyer gets nada from the airline and/or aircraft manufacturer, but he can sue the person firing the missile. Wonder which theory our trial lawyer will go with.
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