Research Document #32
The NTSB Report on Artifact 2-2-V-1
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In 1992 TIGHAR submitted a number of artifacts recovered from Nikumaroro to the Materials Laboratory of the National Transportation Safety Board for analysis and comment. This the report they produced. The figures are reproduced as thumbnails; please click on each one to open a new window with a full-sized version of the photo.


NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
Office of Research and Engineering
Washington, D.C. 20594

March 5, 1992

  Materials Laboratory
Report No. 92-40
METALLURGIST'S FACTUAL REPORT
 
A. ACCIDENT
 
  Place :Gardner Island, South Pacific
  Date :July 2, 1937
  Vehicle :Lockheed Electra, NR16020
  NTSB No. :DCA 37-I-A001
  Investigator :The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery
  (TIGHAR), Richard Gillespie, Executive Director
   THE EARHART PROJECT
B. COMPONENTS EXAMINED
 
  Eleven artifacts recovered from Gardner Island.
 
C. DETAILS OF THE EXAMINATION
 
 

    The eleven artifacts are displayed in figures 1 through 11. Nine of the ten artifacts were either individual pieces of aluminum sheet or assemblies of aluminum sheet pieces. The other two artifacts were a "instrument panel" piece made from a phenolic like material with an attached copper cylinder and the second, a strand of solid wire. All the artifacts showed various levels of extensive corrosion, erosion and other damage. The pieces are listed in Table A by the identification number assigned by the investigator.

    The artifacts were individually examined with a stereo optical microscope with the observations noted below. In addition, small specimens were removed from each of the aluminum sheet pieces and metallographic cross sections were prepared then etched with Keller's Reagent to reveal the microstructures. The majority of the pieces exhibited microstructures consistent with a solution heat treated and aged core material sandwiched between thin layers of relatively pure aluminum cladding generally referred to as "Alclad". Photographs (50X) of representative microstructive areas of some of the artifacts are shown in figures 1, 2B, 3 thru 6, 7B, 8 and lOB. Energy dispersive Report No. 92-40 X-ray analysis (EDXA) spectra were acquired from the core region on each of the cross sections and compared with the spectra from a 2024 aluminum alloy standard acquired under the same electron beam conditions. Those specimens with spectra consistent with 2024 are listed as "2024" in the "Alloy" column of Table A, other spectra are listed as "not 2024". EDXA spectra from each sample are attached to this report.

2-2-V-1 Sheet

Figure 1AThe sheet was a comparatively large piece (23 inch x 19 inch) of 0.032 inch thick aluminum alloy, shown in figure 1, with a pronounced curvature across the short dimension. The sheet had four rows of evenly spaced 3/16 inch diameter rivet holes and one row of 5/32" holes along its long dimension. Measurements determined that the rivet rows were not parallel but rather showed a slight convergence. Nominal spacing between rows was about 4-1/4 inches at one end of the sheet and 1/8 to 1/4 inch closer at the other end. The skin around these holes was, in general, dimpled inward toward the concave side of the sheet suggesting that the sheet had been area loaded from the concave side while the rivets and underlying structure were intact. The remains of a solid brazier-head rivet were found in the hole denoted by arrow "R" in figure 1. The manufactured head of the rivet was on the convex side of the sheet and was marked with a single round dimple in the center of the head, as shown in the right center photograph of figure 1. The dimple usually signifies a 2117 aluminum alloy rivet. The length of the undeformed rivet shank (distance between the manufactured head and the formed head) indicated that the skin had previously been attached to an approximately 0.06 inch thick underlying member. The faint outline of 1/2" tall letters "AD" were noted on the convex side of the sheet in the circled area in figure 1A and are shown at 2X in figure lB.

Figure 1BThe sheet was bounded by fractures on all four sides. On one side the fracture ran generally along the line of larger 5/32 inch diameter rivet holes. The fracture intersected all of the 5/32 inch diameter holes except for the three denoted by arrows "H" figure 1. The rivet holes in this row were nominally spaced at 1-1/4 inch intervals except for the three unfractured holes which were not evenly spaced. Post separation abrasion and erosion damage had obliterated the fracture faces and positive determination of the modes of fractures could not be established. However, the fracture geometry along the line of rivet holes (upper edge of sheet in figure 1) was consistent with tearing separations in both directions away from the area of the intact holes, as indicated by the unlabelled arrows in the upper photos of figure 1. Also, deformation adjacent to the fracture line located by brackets in figure 1 indicated that the sheet had been folded 90 degrees toward the convex side prior to separation.

2-2-V-9 Channel Section

Figure 2A
Figure 2B
The 2-2-V-9 artifact was a "C" shaped formed aluminum sheet channel approximately 7.25 inch long by 3 inch wide with a nominal material thickness of 0.062 inch and is shown from both sides in figures 2A and 2B. Visual examination indicated that one end of the channel had been transversely saw cut through the entire cross section arrowed "SC" in figure 2A. The other end also exhibited saw cut marks but only partially through the section thickness. The remaining section thickness was bent and broken at the cut. The channel had a 2-3/8 inch wide web and two 3/4 inch wide riveting flanges, one at 90 degrees to the web and the other at about 110 degrees. The 90 degree flange had several 3/8 inch rivet holes set at 7/8 inch spacing, with a formed solid rivet remaining in one hole. The 110 degree flange had three 5/32 inch diameter holes containing rivet pieces and also had three complete 3/16 inch rivets. The shanks of two of the rivets (one 5/32 and one 3/16) had been partially saw cut from the outside of the channel. A portion of a flange or bracket (arrow "B" in figure 2A) was riveted to the inside surface of the web. The bracket piece was severely damaged by exfoliation corrosion but remained firmly attached to the channel by two 3/16 inch diameter rivets. The long axis of the bracket piece was set at an approximate 80 degree angle to the longitudinal direction of the channel.

2-2-V-10 Two Strips

Figure 3The two strips were 0.063 inch thick aluminum alloy which fracture matched along a transverse bending overstress fracture, as shown in figure 3. Each strip was about 3/4 inch wide, with one about 5-5/8 inch long and the other 4-1/4 inch long. The two strips were labeled "/1" and "/2", respectively. The end of "/1" located by bracket "M" in figure 3, was also a bending overstress fracture, which upon close inspection mated to the fractured end of the 110 degree flange on the channel piece, 2-2-V-9, in the area of bracket "M" in figure 2A. The non-mating end of the "/2" strip was saw cut half way through and then overstress broken. The two strips had a single line of 5/32 inch rivets with irregular spacing. One long edge of both strips appeared to have a manufactured edge while the other edge appeared to have been saw cut along the bend radius between the flange and the web of the channel.

2-5 Plate

Figure 4The 2-5 plate was a small roughly rectangular piece, about 2 inch by 5 inch by 0.062 inch thick, displayed in figure 4. The plate had a straight sheared edge (manufacturer's cut) along one long side, a bending overstress fracture along one short edge and the other two edges exhibited typical saw cut markings. A ragged hole went through one end of the plate as if cut by multiple strikes with a thin narrow instrument such as a small chisel or screwdriver. A second similar hole was cut partially through the plate, see arrows "H".

2-3 Strip

Figure 5Figure 5 shows a 14 inch long by 1/2 inch wide strip of 0.040 inch nominal thickness aluminum alloy that was labeled as artifact "2-3". The strip had a manufactured edge along one side and an unidentified edge separation along the other side that intersected a line of 5/32 inch diameter holes. The holes were nominally spaced 3/4 inch on center. The strip was deformed in a spiraling curl suggestive of the waste side strip produced from cutting with a pair of tin snips.

2-2-V-8 Riveted Assembly

Figure 6The riveted assembly, shown as figure 6, was made up of two aluminum alloy members. One member was roughly triangular in overall shape and appeared to be complete and relatively undamaged. A small piece was removed for metallographic examination and identified as section "M2", see Table A. The other member was severely damaged by exfoliation corrosion making it difficult to determine its original shape or configuration and no metallurgical samples were removed. However, there were four identifiable 5/32 inch diameter rivet holes along one edge with the formed tail portion of one rivet remaining. The two pieces of the assembly were connected by three large 3/16 inch diameter intact rivets that were each marked with a single dimple in their manufactured heads.

2-2 Sheet

Figure 7A Figure 7B
The sheet was about 5-1/4 inch wide by 15-1/2 inch long and 0.032 inch thick, as shown in figures 7A and 7B. The long straight edge of the piece appeared to have been an original manufacturer's cut. The piece appears to have been further mechanically cut along the lines denoted by arrows "TS" in figure 7A. Magnified examination of the inside corner intersections of these cuts revealed deformation patterns typical of cuts made with a pair of tin snips, see insert photograph in 7A. The remaining edges of the sheet appeared to be typical tearing fractures. One surface of the sheet had a rusty brown stain on about half of its area (see figure 7A). The opposite surface had a faint red coloration over a portion of its surface, as shown in figure 7B.

Figure 82-2-V-5 Comb

The comb was crudely formed as shown in figure 8, with parallel saw cuts separating the teeth. The comb was 3-7/8 inch long by 1-3/8 inch wide, made from 0.032 inch thick aluminum alloy sheet. The comb had three 1/8 inch diameter holes nominally spaced 1-7/8 inch apart.

2-2-V-2 Panel

Figure 9The artifact shown in figure 9 appeared to be a portion of an instrument mounting panel made from a flat piece of Bakelite-like material. The panel section had a solid metallic cylinder screw attached to one of the corners. The flat portion had several small holes and a portion of a much larger hole. No metallurgical sections were removed from this artifact.

2-18 Dado

Figure 10AThe riveted aluminum sheet metal assembly (Dado) in figure 10 was made up of at least four separate components, a wide web (0.032 inch thick), a narrow flat strip (0.022 inch thick), a 180 degree flange (0.028 inch thick) and a 90 degree flange (0.022 inch thick). Overall, the assembly was 16-3/4 inch long by 6-1/2 inch wide. All four edges of the web appeared to be manufacturer's cuts with 3/32 inch diameter rivet holes and remnants of rivets nearby. The 90 degree flange, arrowed "90" in figure 10A, was attached to one long edge of the web by rivets spaced 1-3/4 inch apart. The 180 degree flange and the flat strip were riveted to opposite sides of the other long edge of the web.

Figure 10BCorrosion of the assembly components was heavy with the areas of the 180 degree flange and flat strip showing perforations. The space between the flange, web and strip was filled with corrosion products.

A long rivet tail, arrow "F" in figure 10A, was located in the area of severe corrosion. During optical examination, small remnants of a bluish woven fabric were found around the rivet tail as shown in the figure 1OA insert.

Metallurgical sections were removed from the web, (section Ml, with a rivet piece), the 90 degree flange (section M2), the 180 degree flange (section M3), and the flat strip flange (section M4).

2-2-V-1 Wire

Figure 11AThe wire (shown in figure 11A) was reportedly found entangled in one of the tears of artifact 2-2-V-1. The wire was a single strand of 0.024 inch diameter copper wire that was 34 inches long. Remnants of what appeared to be degraded and hardened insulation were found randomly along the length of the wire. Examination of a portion of the insulation with the aid of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed fibrous strands, encased in the insulation jacket as denoted by arrows "T" in figure 11B.

Figure 11 B and CSamples of reportedly common aircraft antenna wire labeled "1938" and "1941" were also supplied by the investigator for comparison purposes and are displayed in figure 11C. The "1938" wire sample had a single strand, solid wire core with a easily fragmented inner insulation and a woven fabric outer covering. EDXA analysis determined that the copper wire core had been tinned prior to being insulated. The inner insulation had two longitudinal fibrous threads, arrowed "T1" in figure 11C, embedded within the insulation material. The wire sample labeled "1941" had a similar outer covering but in contrast had a multiple strand twisted wire core and a rubbery inner insulation with no indications of embedded threads.

 

        Joe Sig.
       
Joe Epperson
Senior Metallurgist
 
TABLE A
 
ID No.
Description
Sections
Alloy
1. 2-2-V-1 Aluminum Sheet
M1
2024, Alclad
2. 2-2-V-9 Channel Section
M1
2024, Alclad
     
M2
(Rivet)
3. 2-2-V-10 Two Aluminum Strips
M1
2024, Alclad
4. 2-5 Plate
M1
2024, Alclad
5. 2-3 Strip with holes
M1
2024, Alclad
6. 2-2-V-8 Riveted Assembly
M1
(Rivet)
     
M2
2024, Alclad
7. 2-2 Aluminum Sheet (Red Paint)
M1
2024, No Clad
8. 2-2-V-5 Aluminum Comb
M1
2024, Alclad
9. 2-2-V-2 Panel Section
No Sections
10. 2-18 Dado, Aluminum Assembly
M1(Web)
2024
     
M2 (90°)
Not 2024, No Clad
     
M3 (180°)
2024, No Clad
     
M4 (Flat)
Not 2024, No Clad
11. 2-2-V-1 Wire, Solid, with 2-2-V-1
No Sections
Copper
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