Beachnut,
I'm directing my question to you, Apathoid, Reheat, and 911files because you're all exceptionally knowledgeable about planes. Apathoid pretty much explained what I wanted to know, but he didn't fill in all the details for someone (like me) who knows squat about the airlines industry.
Are serial numbers ever important for a crash investigator? Does the FDR have a number that connects it to a specific plane? Apathoid has stated that parts are interchangeable, so do the serial numbers of certain parts ever show conclusively the exact flight involved?
The "truther" frauds pretend that there is a mystery about the identities of the planes that were hijacked on 9/11. I keep reminding them that air traffic controllers tracked those flights closely. But, should more serial-numbered parts have been found? As I ask this question, I keep wondering why the imaginary conspiracy wouldn't simply provide whatever serial numbers they require.
If you found the engine the problem in an accident checking the serial number to match it to maintenance records would be wise as Apathoid pointed out the parts are interchangeable and there could me mistakes. So knowing the history of an engine and having the correct engine could be important. So yes serial numbers can be important to pin point history and know what if any difference or history contributed to an accident.
The serial numbers would not identify the plane they would identify the part being on the plane if records are kept. 911lairs have it messed up.
Take an engine that shows increased fuel flow and higher EGT readings; just slight increases. Then there is an accident. Knowing the correct engine and having its history could be important to make recommendations and help determine cause.
If an electrical part causes and accident knowing the serial number could pin point the problem to a change in the manufacture of the part and that could be the problem. You can use serial numbers to see the history of the part! It is important in an accident when a part causes the accident.
Serial numbers otherwise are an academic exercise or collected in case a part is found to be a cause later; not used to identify planes unless you have no idea where the plane came from.
The FDR should be logged by serial number to an airframe I think. The FDR is so easy to match to an exact plane because it has the data from 25 plus hours of flight from the plane it was installed in. It tracks hundreds and sometimes thousands of parameters for a specific plane. The FDR found in an accident would prove which plane due to data not the serial number.
Even Dan Rather and CBS news could not mess up the identiy of the planes on 911. Where to the 911liars say all the people are from the four flights? DNA shows where two sets of passengers ended up and 911liars have to be the most heartless liars around to make up false ideas with no evidence.
The only reason we see serial numbers in NTSB accident reports is due to the fact the reports can't be used in a court. The NTSB can't do accident reports on crimes. But to get the correct version of this look up NTSB and courts with some key words.
For instance this is another take on NTSB reports, what the Air Force calls privilege.
Private litigants must prove the cause of the crash to a jury without the benefit of the conclusions of the NTSB accident investigations. Many courts have ...