I attended the board meeting as an observer.
My father sat at the center of the long table. Grant sat two chairs from him. Adrian was at the other end, with Dr. Lowe beside him and a stack of test data open on the screen.
The board chair, Marjorie Bell, asked Adrian to summarize the delay.
"The aircraft passed the low-power ground test," he said. "A fitting failed during the first structural load test. The incident report identifies the test rig as the probable cause. The raw data contradicts that conclusion."
"What does it indicate?" Marjorie asked.
"It indicates the fitting failed under a load within its rated limit."
"Was the component approved?"
"The certification form says yes. The original heat-treatment record is missing."
Grant folded his hands. "The supplier has confirmed
