Fixation seems contagious. Dark, bumpy, somewhat complacent, most likely the Captain not flying, and a/p A/T quit, followed by a workload that doesn't stand a chance while surprised pilots try to get current with 'what is she doing now?'.
Then a slowly rotating a/c hits the sea vertically in "Line of Flight" (Which means what under the circumstances?). Trying to pin a time on the upset, I would suggest it happened quickly, followed by loss of power and hopes of regaining controlled flight.
Speed limit alert and Alternate Law controls. Maybe someone could advance a possibility given the cockpit environment (imagined). Throw in a powerful and unseen airmass with some very strange noises emanating from engines and airframe. With upset comes the need for immediate and precise controls on a good day, once established, how could recovery not be impossible.?
Stall Recovery is not taught here, it is deemed virtually impossible to happen. Yet the a/c can Stall. Therein lies the hubris and the politics for GreatBear. Colgan doesn't train Stall recovery either. At least not back in February, 09. For the record, a recovery was likely impossible with 447 in any case.
bear
Perhaps the defensiveness came from the original heated debates re: FBW.