Originally Posted by
MurphyWasRight
:
Alll 3 of the FDR traces clearly show MCAS kicking in ~5 seconds after the last manual electric trim.
It is not clear what the current published FDR traces are actually reporting... I am not saying that your interpretation is wrong but it is not absolutely certain. Does the thumb switch have absolute authority in all circumstances (save for when electric trim is disabled)? The wiring schematics available suggests otherwise and the detailed software logic is not publicly known. The FDR data is not clear whether it is reporting inputs or final outputs or something in between. I have read what is available in this thread and still have doubts that there is sufficient information to be sure. What is certain is that the MCAS system was not properly or adequately designed. It is inherently dangerous and should never have been approved. Whether the pilots should or could be expected to resolve the defective system is a secondary issue. It is simply unacceptable for a critical system to continue to rely on plainly unreliable sensor information. The common factor is unreliable AoA that is easily detected but the system ignores. Autopilot is disabled but why on earth is MCAS allowed to continue to operate?