AA A321 takes off after smashing ground sign

[FlightDetent]

Clear on that. A less understanding reader might focus on the wrong moment, hence I mentioned it.

Without checking the books, at this stage all control should be direct to the surfaces, no FBW magic. Apart from the relationship not being necessarily linear angle to angle that is, it could be electronically 'geared' but still with direct relation to control displacement.

Near full rudder will cause sideslip which comes with profound effect on the relative wing span (also shielding the root area on the leeway side). Guessing these two create the rolling motion the strongest, not any gusts. As you say, the rolling itself has a dampening effect but of a much smaller extent.

A conventional into-the-wind aileron input (not recorded on the trace btw, quack) prevents any undesired roll caused by gust on this dihedral wing. Very little is needed, around 3 deg - a piloting technique required to avoid raising the upwind spoilers.

In other words, as the QAR with a full set of data was immediately available most likely the knowledgeable people formed a very good understanding within 48 hours. Since then:
- no Airbus operational telex
- no bells from the ALPA