Incident Overview
While en route from London-Heathrow to Salzburg at an altitude of 19,000 feet, the rear pressure bulkhead of a Vanguard aircraft ruptured. This resulted in an explosive decompression of the fuselage, causing serious interior damage and severe distortion of the upper tailplane skin attachments. Subsequently, the tail surfaces detached, causing the airplane to enter a steep dive. The Vanguard spiraled down out of control and crashed in a field next to a highway.
Investigation Findings
During the investigation, corrosion was found in the lower part of the rear pressure bulkhead underneath plating that was bonded to the structure. The bond was completely delaminated in this area, and the bulkhead material was literally eaten away. Fluid contamination, perhaps from the lavatory, was thought to have been the root cause for the corrosion.
Probable Cause
The accident was caused by the rupture of the rear pressure bulkhead, which led to the separation both tailplanes in flight and caused the aircraft to dive into the ground.