Why does a flash cause rainbow stripes in my digital photos?

On 2014-12-11 15:26:32 +0000, "Danny D." said:

After dropping the phone down a cliff (it was either the phone
or the kid I was belaying, and it wasn't an easy choice), the
flash has stripes in it every time it's activated.

Here's a picture snapped just now for alt.home.repair for
preparing the gutters for the storm in California right now:
https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7521/1...465140f4_c.jpg

The stripes seem to be in the longitudinal direction (widest):
https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7498/1...3c90f0c9_b.jpg

But, the pictures are fine when I don't have a need for flash:
https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7511/1...49673dcb_b.jpg

Can you give me some background on what is happening and why?

If the saga of the dropped phone is a report of an actual event, then I
would say that there is some internal damage to the camera and/or its
circuits/processor. I doubt that what we are seeing with that first
shot has anything to do with the flash, but everything to do with
internal electronic damage.

This raises the question; WTF were you doing with a phone while engaged
in the far more important task of belaying a kid, on what we are led to
believe was a climb of sorts?
That seems to be the real issue here. It is a matter of cause and
resulting effect. We know the cause, you dropped the phone, the
resulting effect is a questionably functioning camera.

My suggestion for a fix is going to depend on several factors:
1: How new is the phone?
2: Is it still under warranty, or are you carrying insurance?
3: Who is your cell service carrier?

Subsequent recommendations:
1: Have the phone repaired/replaced under warranty/insurance.
2: Buy a new phone, or live with the questionable camera/phone, and
don't use the flash.

--
Regards,

Savageduck