Originally Posted by
megan
What was the direct cause of the accident?
Simply this:
Without any commanded Roll, the Aileron Boost pumps shut down when the Aileron Boost Handle is pulled, and both ailerons are supposed to cycle home. When the co-pilot stated “no Release”, Captain relaxed his LEFT ROLL. With Roll commanded, and both control cables attached, the Boost valve pressure prevents the boost handle from working. This is what happened, it’s why they got no BOOST OFF. Aileron command provided the pressure to the valve, and prevented the co-pilot from de activating BOOST. (“I cannot get release”.) If a cable separated, there would have been no aileron input, BOOST OFF occurs immediately. The conclusion of “separated” cable is not correct.
But it wouldn’t have mattered, something else was terribly wrong, and it made recovery impossible.