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Hinge 6 was the only hinge that
broke at the vertical stabilizer. There is minor damage on the
starboard and port side of the hinge cover, (figure 4, image
4). This damage would indicate that the hinge arms moved freely
back and forth beyond their normal operating range suggesting
that the damage to the hinge cover occurred after the rudder
separated from the vertical stabilizer.
The tearing pattern of the laminate material, (image 5), (black in photo) indicates that the hinge separated from the vertical stabilizer in a starboard to port and slightly downward direction. This would be consistent with a force applied to the starboard side of the rudder.
When hinge 6 failed all the stress and weight of the top portion of rudder was transferred to hinge 5 about 11 below the first break at hinge 1, (figure 5).
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