Page:Report of the Board of Inquiry into the Helderberg air disaster.djvu/94

Rh stringers are all damaged. With the cabin pressurised to 8,9 psi the structure will tolerate skin damage between strangers 5L and 5R even if the 10 uppermost stringers have fractured.

(6) The fuselage skin panels can sustain operating loads of 1,3g plus 8,9 psi cabin pressure if the 38 uppermost strangers have fractured.

The Board considers that it was reasonably possible that in the unusual circumstances the loading on the aircraft substantially exceeded 2g.

1.16.8 Tests with a Boeing 747 Combi simulator showed that the emergency descent time from FL 350 to FL 140 was 3 minutes 30 seconds. The pitch angles were 15° nose down at entry of the descent and 10° nose down when the aeroplane was stabilised in the descent.

1.17 Additional Information

1.17.1 The electrical wiring in the main deck cargo compartment was routed in the fuselage crown area on the left and right sides and