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CNN Live At Daybreak

Rudder Problem May Have Caused Crash of Flight 587 in Queens

Aired November 16, 2001 - 05:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We have some new information this morning on the Flight 587 crash investigation. Experts say analysis of the flight data recorder seems to point to a possible problem with the plane's rudder. The recorder shows turbulence from a 747 that had just taken off and buffeted the plane 96 seconds into the flight. Then a second wave hit the plane 20 seconds later, with the pilot recovering control both times.

But, then the plane's rudder makes some unexplained movements and they cause the jet to jerk violently.

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MARION BLAKEY, NTSB CHAIRWOMAN: The significant lateral accelerations that we have talked to you about and, in fact, reported as Point 3g, Point 4g and Point 3g again in the opposite direction, occurred after the second wake encounter.

That's important to note because only a small portion of those readings is probably attributable to the wake experience and we are looking at the question, therefore, of what other kinds of factors may have contributed. But certainly they would not be solely attributed to the wake turbulence center in and of itself.

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HARRIS: U.S. and French aviation officials say that they're going to order inspections of all Air Bus A-300 and A-310 planes, focusing on the tail sections.

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: A lot of questions about turbulence that could shake apart a plane like that, what kind of factors, including weather could play in the situation.

HARRIS: That's right.

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