Flight Data Recorder for Douala 737 Crash Withheld

The recovered flight data recorder from the Douala Cameroon 05 May crash of a Kenya Airways 737-800 has still not been submitted for analysis. The over three week delay is quite unusual, particularly because the aircraft is a relatively new model with a known non-restowing wing-spoiler associated defect that can cause controllability problems on/after takeoff. [quote] Two or more hardover failures of the spoiler surfaces in the up direction on the same wing, if undetected prior to takeoff, can cause significant roll and consequent loss of control of the aeroplane. The FAA has received a report of seven flight spoiler actuator jams on Model 737-800 Short Field Performance (SFP) aeroplanes. The cause of the failure has been identified as interference within the actuator main control valve.[unquote]. Despite the guidance clearly given in ICAO Annexe 13, it would appear that Kenya and Cameroon have strong conflicting opinions as to where the digital flight data recorder should be sent for analysis, Canada, USA or France. The cockpit voice recorder has not yet been found. Flight KQ507 crashed only about 30 seconds after takeoff from Douala in heavy weather - yet may well have had flight control problems. Related articles