Los Angeles Times, "Jet Crash Adds Urgency to Issue of Inspecting Composite Parts"

          Fighter jets built for the Pentagon are routinely inspected with ultrasound to detect hidden flaws that may develop in lightweight composite materials used to make such critical parts as the wings and tail.
          But only visual maintenance inspections were required for the Airbus A300 jetliner that crashed last month in New York after its composite tail fin broke off.
          The adequacy of visual inspections has become a focus of the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the Nov. 12 crash of American Airlines Flight 587, a source close to the probe said. Composite materials can be weakened by internal failures that are not visible on the surface.
          Adding to the concerns is the fact that the tail fin had a flaw that was fixed before the plane was put into service. Some engineers who work with composites say that condition should have warranted more than regular visual inspections.