Faulty altimeter, thust levers commanded to RETARD and subsequent stall seems to be the consensus.
Following the RETARD mode the A/T reverts to ARM unless disengaged by man or machine. Input from the air/ground sensor would cause the A/T to disengage 2 secs after touchdown, otherwise with the automatics engaged the A/T reverts to ARM, and with the speed still decaying the AFS pitches the nose down if the thrust levers are not moved.
Should you initiate a go-around by pressing TO/GA, the automatics disengage unless in a dual channel mode(not the case). Was there a mode confusion if a G/A was initiated?
So we need to know if the A/T was engaged at all in the first place.
There was an incident couple of years ago where a crew tried to circle of an ILS with the automatics in,the APP mode was exited by disengaging the automatics, however being too busy ''in and out'' the crew forgot to re-engage the A/T and subsequently reached the middle of yellow band but luckily recovered just in time.
There was a case also involving a 74 operation where the PM becomes PF at minima, who then as as he took over initiated a go-around without advancing the thrust levers. Speed decayed but was spotted in time.
Human has to know,monitor,respect and care for machine. Otherwise its a ''Garbage in garbage out'' outcome no matter how automated the automatics get.
Last edited by airbusa330; 11th Mar 2009 at 06:43.