UAAG CH57

Large aircraft manufacturers all have specialized “Ground Aircraft Groups” responsible for handling various types of aircraft accidents.

From minor aircraft maintenance to major air crashes, everything is handled by the professionals in these Ground Aircraft Groups.

Twenty-three years ago, after the Emirates 411 crash, Boeing, as the aircraft manufacturer, naturally dispatched a professional on-site investigation team to work alongside the NTSB and GCAA. However, this time, they did not send anyone in person. Instead, they communicated with the investigation headquarters online, providing technical support.

At 4:00 PM Dubai time—which was 7:00 AM Chicago time—the Emirates 411 investigation headquarters began a video conference with Boeing’s Ground Aircraft Group.

It was a long meeting. Zhuo Huan had Su Fei send all the data from the 124 experiments to Boeing.

Upon receiving the email, Boeing immediately arranged for their laboratory to process and analyze the experimental data. Boeing possesses one of the most advanced aviation laboratories in the world. With the experimental data in hand, it took them only forty minutes to prepare the materials, assemble and design the relevant apparatus, and begin reverse confirmation experiments.

On the projection screen, the grey-haired person in charge received the data from the lab, and his expression gradually turned grim. He flipped through the documents, looked up, and said, “Regarding the internal explosion in the wing fuel tank and the shockwave damaging the flap’s outer skin, the experiments have concluded. In three trials, we successfully achieved the separation of the outer surface from the internal steel structure once. However, Mr. Patrick, I do not believe this would affect the normal operation of the aircraft.”

Zhuo Huan looked at him: “Let’s hear it.”

The Boeing staff member said, “We have also heard about the new witness for Emirates 411. Your experiment can reasonably explain the ‘flap debris’ seen by that witness. However, the skin of the flap and the engine fan are two different things.”

“The wing skin of our Boeing 777 uses super-hard aluminum material, which has extremely strong compression resistance. For the flaps, a fiberglass structure is used. The experiment just now confirmed that an explosion inside the fuel tank can destroy the fiberglass of the flap, causing the super-hard aluminum material to peel off the wing. But this does not mean that the fan blades inside the engine would be similarly cracked by the shockwave.”

The Boeing executive ordered his subordinates to transmit the video filmed during the experiment to the screen.

“Mr. Patrick, investigators, please look. When Boeing manufactures aircraft, we certainly do not cut corners or use inferior materials. However, wing materials and engine materials simply cannot be compared. The engine fan blades are known as the ‘jewel in the crown’; they are the most crucial part of an engine. And the Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engine uses turbine blades made of micro-laminated composite materials…”

Physical data, experiment videos, photos of material fracture points…

The head of Boeing’s Ground Aircraft Group methodically presented piece after piece of evidence to everyone. He spoke incessantly, his tone confident. His confidence stemmed from his trust in Boeing aircraft and the Boeing laboratory.

Finally, he concluded: “Indeed, an internal fuel tank explosion might cause the aircraft’s flap skin to fall off; you have verified this. But Mr. Patrick, I must regretfully tell you that such an explosive yield and such a shockwave could absolutely not destroy the fan blades of a Trent 800 engine! No matter how close they are, it is absolutely impossible.”

Zhuo Huan finished reviewing all the materials and raised his head: “Before today, had you ever considered that an internal explosion in a Boeing 777 wing fuel tank could crack the aircraft’s surface skin without showing any other external signs?”

The Boeing executive froze. He was silent for a moment, then said, “I hadn’t thought of that.”

Zhuo Huan chuckled softly: “Air disasters are composed of countless coincidences. Never say the words ‘absolutely impossible’ to an airplane.”

There was a few seconds of silence in the video conference.

Fu Cheng looked up at Zhuo Huan’s back.

Zhuo Huan leaned against the table, head slightly tilted, looking at the Boeing staff on the projection screen with an indifferent expression. Everyone thought his words were directed at Boeing—a warning, a reprimand. But for some reason, looking at his back, Fu Cheng suddenly felt… perhaps this sentence was also meant for the McFly F485.

Fu Cheng said, “Teacher Zhuo, news has come from Lowrence.”

Zhuo Huan turned to look at him. Their eyes met, and he asked, “Did the experiment go smoothly?”

Fu Cheng nodded gently: “Very smoothly. He is currently packaging the experimental data and sending it to UAAG’s inbox…”

“Email received!” Su Fei cheered excitedly. He said to Zhuo Huan, “RIP, should I decompress the data now?”

Zhuo Huan: “Project it onto the screen.” He paused, then hooked the corner of his lips: “By the way, send a copy to Boeing as well.”

The Boeing executive’s expression shifted slightly; he keenly sniffed out a hint of something unusual.

Five minutes later, dense experimental data and line graphs were projected onto the big screen. The Boeing executive furrowed his brows as he looked at the data. The more he looked, the heavier his heart became.

Zhuo Huan stood with his hands in his pockets, speaking lightly: “Twenty-three years ago, neither the NTSB laboratory nor the Boeing laboratory could prove why the fan blades of Emirates 411 turned into fragments. But now, under the premise of an explosive shockwave, and conducting a cross-section detection experiment…”

“Facts prove that air disasters are composed of countless coincidences.”

At the same time, Washington D.C., USA, NTSB Headquarters.

Lowrence handed the experiment report to Deputy Director Andrew.

Levi Andrew’s gaze swept quickly over the black English letters. His eyes were calm. after finishing the not-so-lengthy experiment report, he looked up at his trusted subordinate: “Sure enough, there is an element of chance.”

Lowrence couldn’t hide his joy: “Yes. Normally speaking, given the strength of Rolls-Royce engine fan blades, even if they encountered an explosive shockwave at extremely close range, they wouldn’t break. A shockwave capable of breaking them would definitely destroy the aircraft’s wing directly. However, Director Andrew, the hypothesis you proposed twenty-three years ago was not wrong. This broken fan blade fractured because its material underwent some specific, accidental changes. This kind of special change has a high degree of coincidence. Perhaps it would have been discovered during the next engine maintenance check. But regrettably, what discovered the damage to its material was an air crash.”

Meanwhile, the staff of the Boeing Ground Aircraft Group fell into silence after seeing this experimental data.

However, they still decided to submit an application to the NTSB to request a few fragments of the Emirates 411 fan blades to conduct another experiment themselves. But for now, they offered no further opinions.

The UAAG members had no objection to this.

After the video conference ended, Old Joseph spread his hands and said, “Big companies are always like this. No matter what, they only trust themselves. They have to see it with their own eyes before they’re willing to believe.”

Lina smiled faintly: “I agree with your view, Old Joseph. McFly is the same. But this isn’t just because of their distrust of other organizations; it’s more about their trust in their own quality. And this trust is built on the foundation of thousands of experiments. For example, the McFly F485—before it was designed, every part of it underwent at least 1,000 experiments.”

“It was 1,316 times.”

Lina turned to look at Zhuo Huan: “Reid?”

Zhuo Huan exerted a little strength to stand up straight. He looked at his close friend, chewing gum, still wearing that look as if the whole world owed him ten billion. “1,316 experiments were for the aircraft’s oil quantity sensor. Because it basically continued the setup of the McFly F475, there were no improvements or changes.”

Lina laughed: “Okay.”

The two-month accident investigation had come to a close, leaving only the final accident investigation report.

Zhuo Huan: “Fu Cheng, you write the investigation report this time.”

Fu Cheng froze. He looked at a certain man: “Okay.”

Old Joseph asked in surprise, “Fu, although the cause of this crash is clear, the report involves very professional experimental issues in many places. Can you do it?”

Fu Cheng smiled: “No problem.”

Old Joseph laughed: “I was just saying. Even if you asked me for help, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Aircraft accident investigation reports involving UAAG generally fell into two categories.

Accidents with excessive professional complexity and extremely high experimental requirements were written by Zhuo Huan personally, such as Japan Airlines 917.

For crashes where the cause didn’t have overly harsh professional requirements, others could write them, such as American Airlines 4012, which Old Joseph wrote.

This didn’t mean that Fu Cheng and the others couldn’t write highly professional crash investigation reports, only that for Zhuo Huan, it was effortless; he didn’t need to think at all. Others might need to spend some time organizing and summarizing the experimental data.

The JAL 917 incident involved the influence of electromagnetic waves on the MCD magnetic chip detector; every figure and physics formula required precision. One wrong number would lead to a massive error. And this time, the explosive yield and the physical properties of the aircraft materials were also key parts of the investigation report.

Zhuo Huan simply handing it over to Fu Cheng to do surprised everyone a little, but they didn’t feel anything was wrong with it.

However, Old Joseph still asked, “Reid, aren’t you going to write it yourself?”

Zhuo Huan raised his eyes to look at Fu Cheng, the corners of his lips curling up: “Do you want me to write it?”

Fu Cheng looked at him steadily, then shook his head, his face showing little expression. “No need.”

Su Fei: “Anyway, we all have to organize the data and materials.”

GCAA investigator Maha also said with a smile, “Mn, we will also help write it together.”

Everyone laughed in unison.

Seeing their relaxed and cheerful appearance, Master Zhuo was unhappy. A sound of dissatisfaction hummed from his nasal cavity. Zhuo Huan let out a disdainful cold laugh, walked to his seat, and sat down. He crossed his arms over his chest, staring unblinkingly at Fu Cheng, who was talking to Su Fei. However, such a naked and intense gaze seemed not to transmit to Fu Cheng at all.

Fu Cheng didn’t look at him even once.

Zhuo Huan: “…”

Heh.

The Emirates 411 crash had happened twenty-three years ago, and similar cases to the confirmed cause had long existed, so everyone wasn’t in a rush.

The GCAA didn’t have the tradition of the NTSB, where a summary cocktail party was held after every accident investigation concluded.

But this didn’t prevent the GCAA from being wealthy and generous.

Maha smiled and said to the UAAG members, “Tonight at the hotel’s seafood restaurant, we’ve prepared some fine food as a celebration. Everyone should come together later.”

_

Author’s Note:

Zhuo RIP: Heh, Fu Cheng, aren’t you going to beg me for help?

Fu Chengcheng: I really don’t understand what Teacher Zhuo is thinking about every day!

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