Hmmm….. but if there was an inherent fault in the aircraft then one would expect to see a pattern of similar incidents involving the same type – simple common sense tells us that.
I agree but not completely. There was an inherent fault in the 737 rudder servo which “only” resulted in 2 lost aircraft. There was an inherent fault in the MD-80 jack screw that resulted in only 1 lost aircarft.
Most inherent faults only rear their ugly head during very rare/complex circumstances or environments. There could very well be an inherent fault in the A300 family rudder but it only becomes a factor during specific situations that put specific loads on the rudder (ie wake turbulance at slow airspeed).
Usually what happens that that such events rarely exist to an extent to create a fatal failure but do exist at a lesser intensity which doesn’t cause fatal damage but does create noticable stress damage. Would the encounter with several stressed rudders over several decades be a reason for alarm? Not really. Would those same rudders be looked at with a more critical eye if they were aware that given specific circumstances those stressed rudders could have actually failed and come off in flight? Most definately.
Just because there isn’t a pattern yet doesn’t mean there isn’t a fatal flaw.
EDIT:
Another more recent example could very well be the Bombardier CRJ. I would say any aircraft that has a simultaneous engine shutdown in flight could very well have a fatal flaw even though there isn’t a noted history of such events.
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