Detachment of forward fuselage
Examination of the three major structural elements either sideof the region of station 800 on the
right side of the fuselagemakes it clear that to produce the curvature of the window beltand peeling
of the riveted joint at the R2 door aperture requiresthe door pillar to be securely in position and able
to react longitudinaland lateral loads. This in turn requires the large section offuselage on the right
side between stations 760 and 1000 (incorporatingthe right half of the floor) to be in position in
order to locatethe lower end of the door pillar. Thus both these sections musthave been in position
until the section from station 560 to 800(right side) had completed its deflection to the right and
peeledfrom the door pillar. Separation of the forward fuselage mustthus have been complete by the
time all three items mentionedabove had fallen free.