Wrathall Mark wrote:

Bill wrote>

Mark,

 Is the A300 rudder actuator capable of a structural disconnect from the

rudder

 (i.e. not physically separate multiple actuators)?

Am I correct in guessing that the A300 rudder has no mass balance and is

only

flutter protected by the actuator?

THANKS.

Bill Freeman

Mark wrote>

I haven't worked on Airbus ( we just have Boeing and Canadair) but Austrian
flies an all Airbus fleet. I went down to the hangar to confirm they do the
actuation the same way Boeing does it. The three actuators (as well as I
could tell from the hydraulic fluid smears - there were no AUA mechanics
around to talk to) appear completely separate as they are on the Boeing
widebodies.

Your are correct that the 3000psi hydraulic actuators assume all damping
function, there is no mass or aerodynamic balancing.

Strangely enough the 777 has an antibalance tab to increase rudder
effectiveness. A strange addition to a fly by wire design.

The FAA released emergency AD 2001-23-51 to order  up the inspection of all
A300/310 tails.If this plane was sabotaged/shot down/bombed, you'd think
they would know that already.

http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAD.nsf/WebNewEme
rgencyAD/3D35BCB1CF80903586256B06005EA641?OpenDocument

 
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