Summary of Debris from 2010 Video

[Tim Mellon]

Also way down-hill on the right (in the 2012 HD video) we find our old friend the squiggle, still sitting on the trailing edge of the right wing near the wingtip. No doubt now, in my mind, that all these duplicate finds between 2010 and 2012 mean that the Earhart Electra is at the spot identified as Location #1 in the Phoenix table in Bulletin #63.

[John Balderston]

Hi all, very glad to be home and have the opportunity to catch up on the forum.  Lots here to think about.

After reading the discussion on rope vs. antenna cable in both the 2010 and 2012 video threads, I wanted to provide some food for thought.  Immediately adjacent to the "end of the rope" there is what appears to be man-made debris that appears to resemble dorsal antenna rigging.  Images attached.

[Tim Mellon]

The 2010 HD video has been referred to as "Wire and Rope". The wire was a coil, about 300 degrees of a circle, that was perched on top of a pile of rubble found in 2010. The ROV, in the last minute of the 8.55 minute video, nudged this wire (on purpose, in my opinion) so that it flew off the debris pile and landed just behind the open pilot's hatch above the Electra cockpit.

The debris pile from whence came the wire is represented by the first photo. The second photo shows the same debris pile from up the hill in the 2012 HD video.

[richie conroy]

Hi All

Tim Have you took note of these objects ?

In box on left u can see top half of metal circular object possible joins 2 objects together

In box to right the object looks like a car dip stick for checking oil 

Thanks Richie

[Tim Mellon]

In box on left u can see top half of metal circular object possible joins 2 objects together

I think that is what is left of the battery terminal post.

In box to right the object looks like a car dip stick for checking oil 

The ring looks to be the base of one of the 9 cylinders, where it attaches to the cranckcase. The black line underneath I don't think is related, but just a separation between two other pieces of material.

[richie conroy]

Hi All

Thought i would post this

Coral shaped window

Also wondering what the black object is in the second image as it doesn't fit with it's surroundings

Thank's Richie

[John Balderston]

" . . . Coral shaped window . . . "

Hi Richie,

For your consideration, a comparison of 2010 ROV image of the area containing the "coral shaped window" vs. an image of L-10E NR16020 underside of inner wing during construction in Burbank, 1936.

FYI, it was your observations of wreckage captured in snapshots "a13.jpg" and a15.png" in "Still from ROV Video" thread, post #1705, dated 11/13/12 that got me scrutinizing this area. 

Cheers, John

[Tim Mellon]

With the benefit of the HD video in hand and a HD monitor, I have been able to identify what I think is a sewing kit next to the hand and fuel cap. There are two pairs of scissors, and one can actually see needles in the pin-cusion.

[John Balderston]

". . . Also wondering what the black object is in the second image as it doesn't fit with it's surroundings. . . "

Hi Richie,

A thought on the second part of your post.  To me the black object looks like an old-school wiring harness bundle of discrete DC-voltage wiring - perhaps cockpit instrument wiring and such.  The bundled end (on the left) would be attached to the electrical load panel; the separated end (on the right) would be wires distributed to the individual pieces of equipment.  I've included a frame from just a bit later in the 2010 ROV footage.  Note that there is a major chunk of "snow covered" wreckage above the "black object" - many apparently man-made objects jumbled together.  I've looked at this for a long time and can't make sense of it.  Maybe a big piece of the wrecked forward or center fuselage that came to rest bottom side up??

Cheers, John

[John Joseph Barrett]

John,

What do you make of the box-like object at the left end? A junction box or load panel possibly?  LTM   -John

[richie conroy]

Hi John B

There is loads of man made objects down there, But due to poor image quality it makes our work harder to discern what is coral and what isn't

Aldo I am having sum luck with new poss wire/rope video 2012

Will try posting some more images later  :)

[John Balderston]

John,

What do you make of the box-like object at the left end? A junction box or load panel possibly?  LTM   -John

Hi John,

A truly insightful question - got me looking at the "black object" with a fresh set of eyes.  I'm now seeing this object as the filler neck for the #2 fuselage fuel tank.  Please see attached image comparison - with image contrast dialed up I believe we can also see the structure for the three fuel fillers aft of the #2 filler - plumbing is no longer attached.

Really interesting and pretty darned configuration-specific. 

Sincerely, John

p.s.  Here is a link to TIGHAR Earhart Project Research bulletin "The Fuel System of NR16020" for reference.

[Tim Mellon]

"Possibly" Amelia Earhart, a close-up from the 2010 HD video:

[John Joseph Barrett]

John,

It does look like it may be a fuel filler. Looking at it from that perspective and comparing the cabin photo you posted, it appears that the vent line may be visible just underneath the filler. There appears to be a line originating from what would be the tank end of the filler and extending toward the port end of the filler. Not perfectly formed as when installed, but connected nonetheless. Also, the shadowing running in a straight line from the area of the proposed filler and down to the right reminds me of the strips mounted across the tops of the tanks to support the platform allowing the crew to crawl back and forth over the tanks. This object, and the snow covered jumble nearby, may just be the cabin fuel tanks.  LTM- John

[Tim Mellon]

JB and JJB, good morning!

Is it possible that you have found all four aux fuel tanks? The first, with the intact fill pipe has been dragged down about 20 degrees by the weight of the attached fuselage section, while the other three (at the top of the attached frame, each arrow pointing at the neck) remain in line as indicated. I think that one of the three missing fill pipes is up the hill by one of the landing gears (see second shot).