Concorde crash experts blame Continental

The daily Le Parisien said the report, prepared by an agency specialising in metallurgy, accuses Continental of not respecting the "rules of procedure" in the repair of one of its DC-10 passenger planes.

As a result, the report concludes, a 43-centimetre-long metal strip fell from the plane and onto the runway from which the ill- fated Concorde took off four minutes later. The Concorde rolled over the metal strip, puncturing one of its tyres and thereby setting in motion a series of failures - including a substantial fuel leak, a fire and loss of power in two engines - which caused it to crash and explode less than two minutes after take-off.

The report confirms a story in the magazine International Flight, which in October had accused Continental of a shoddy repair job in replacing the metal strip on the DC-10s reverse thruster.

According to Le Parisien, French investigators determined with certitude that the strip came from the hood of the DC-10s forward right engine. They also observed a certain number of irregularities on the piece.

The report notes that the strip had already fallen from the engine several times, that it was not the original part and that microscopic traces of the Concorde's tyre were found on one of its screws. Investigators also determined that the metal strip had not been replaced according to the "rules of procedure". Le Parisien wrote that the American company General Electric, which manufactured the DC-10's engines, had provided French investigators with the correct procedure for carrying out this type of repair.

Most important, mechanics were advised to re-use holes that already exist on the part. However, instead of the 12 original holes in the metal strips, investigators found about 30. "It was a real do-it-yourself job," a source close to the investigation told Le Parisien. "Continental can no longer shirk its responsibility."

The repair was carried out in Israel on July 9, 16 days before the crash, reportedly by mechanics approved by Continental. The inquiry will now attempt to establish the degree of Continental's culpability in the crash.

In September, Air France initiated legal action against Continental on the basis of a civil aviation regulation that places responsibility on a carrier for objects that fall from its planes. At the time, Continental said that there was no evidence suggesting that it bore any responsibility in the accident.

Meanwhile, the work of re-constructing the Concorde continues in a hangar near the crash site, about 30 kilometres north of Paris. An official involved in the task told Le Parisien that the work was "50 per cent" completed. Xavier Mulot added, however, "We will still be at it six months from now."

(la/dpa)