1. The evidence indicated that wing flaps were in the retracted position at the time of impact. 2. Aviation experts said this meant the crew was getting the plane ready for landing, which could include reducing engine power and lowering the wing flaps. 3. Airbus was able to achieve such commonality because it pioneered the use of electronics to control the movement of rudders and wing flaps rather than mechanical wires and pulleys. 4. Hammerschmidt also said that investigators had found all major components of the aircraft, including the propeller blades, engines, wing flaps, and other systems. 5. Only one of the three identical hydraulic systems, which are used to control wing flaps, the rudder and landing gear, is malfunctioning. 6. The safety board said one cause of the crash was poor cockpit discipline, resulting in the crew trying to take off without properly setting the wing flaps. 7. Although the hydraulic units are not needed in orbit, they are essential during launch and landing, controlling wing flaps and the main landing gear. 8. Another theory being considered was a problem with the wing flaps that may have caused the plane to bank sharply to the right shortly after takeoff. 9. The circuit, which has three identical backups, relays commands to the wing flaps, rudder and brakes. 10. U.S. Air Force officials said parts of a wing flap, a compartment door and other debris with numbers from the U.S. plane were found Tuesday. |