So thats a
major change from Airbus :
The requested actions after an IR1 FAULT used to be :
- ATT HDG SWTG
.. CAPT ON 3
- IR1
..... OFF
But it is now :
- IR1
..... OFF
- ADR1
..... OFF
- ATT HDG SWTG
.. CAPT ON 3
- AIR DATA HDG SWTG
. CAPT ON 3
Originally Posted by bsieker
As to the Autopilot: The ATSB media release said that the pilots hand-flew the aircraft from the time of the first incident (which was a slight pitch-up and the AP disconnect), except for a few seconds. The ATSB does not tell us when those few seconds were, in particular whether or not it was during the two following, more severe nose-down upsets
There is more information in the audio file of the same ATSB media release
2008/43: Qantas Airbus A330 Accident Media Conference
AP disconnected at the initial IR1 FAULT ECAM MSG
Aircraft climbed 200 feet due to pilot input
AP was reengaged
Aircraft went back to FL370
AP disconnected again
and was never reengaged
Only about one minute later the aircraft suddenly pitch down.
It must be a big question mark for Airbus why a single faulty ADR allowed the AOA protection to take control of the aircraft.
Aircraft was under manual control but the protection prevailed
!?
The more complex a system, the more automatism, the more ambitious
the more chance for the unexpected !