Hart Starts What Might Be A 'Year-Long' Effort To Find A Probable Cause For The Loss of SS2

ANN RealTime Update--0206 ET, 11.03.14: A late Sunday evening press conference hosted by Acting NTSB Boss, Christopher Hart has revealed some notable details in this early investigation period. While it is WAY too early to name a specific probable cause for the accident that befell SpaceShipTwo, evidence has revealed a series of worrisome clues that seem to indicate that SpaceShipTwo may have undergone an uncommanded wing feathering sequence at a speed in excess of Mach One. Wing feathering requires two primary actions... the first is to activate the wing feathering system, usually done at 1.4 Mach and, this time, done a bit earlier at about 1.0... the other is to actuate the wing feather sequence itself... which was reportedly NOT commanded or actuated... but occurred anyway. The ramifications of an uncommanded feathering system actuation at such speeds are significant and sure to be a major target of the NTSB investigative process... Hart also reports the NTSB having found the propellant and oxidizer tanks as well as the engine core... and that none of those systems appears to have suffered from a ‘burn-through.’
 

Original Report: Acting NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart held a second media briefing on Saturday and indicated that the investigation process has begun into the loss of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo. Hart announced that the parties who will participate in the investigation are the FAA, Scaled Composites, and Virgin Galactic. He said the initial collaboration with these parties has gone very well.

The investigation process has been divided into 6 key areas. These areas are: documentation of the wreckage, vehicle systems, engines, vehicle performance, data, and operations. The FBI is leading the documentation of the wreckage which is spread along a path of about 5 miles. Hart said wreckage like this is an indication of an in-flight breakup.
 
Hart said the systems and data group are working together and they have extensive data to work from. SpaceShipTwo had 6 cameras and the WhiteKnightTwo launch vehicle had 3 cameras. Telemetry monitored over 1000 parameters and a range camera located at Edwards AFB had visual contact with the spaceship. The chase plane was also recording with cameras.
 
Hart reported that people in the operations area are being interviewed but he said those interviews would not be released because they could have an impact on further interviews. He said that the surviving pilot has not yet been interviewed due to medical and family considerations.

The engine group has started their investigation however the wreckage was spread out such that fuel tanks were located some distance from the engine itself. At the time of this report the engine has not been investigated.
 
Hart expects the on-site investigation to take about a week and a final report on this accident is estimated to take about 12 months.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov