It most likely had six thousand pounds of fuel in the tail (trim) tank adding a bit of impetus to any noseup control. No need for Warning from FADEC, the engines soldiered on. The auto pilot trip limits are rather impressive, I doubt any control was had after a/p left the loop. RTLU was set at 16 degrees sweep, per BEA. Without a/s or statics, the game is up. The ACARS was a snitch after the fact. I think no one was alive to feel the impact. The litany of ACARS are all we have. Wanting to "fly" is the design consideration for all commercial a/c, and she did what she could, alone, and witless.
It seems intuitive, with all respect.
1. A "Born Free" autopilot
2. Auto flight in trash Wx
3. No positive control (by definition) at A/P OFF
If the a/c was nosedown and behind on power leaving the unstable (VS read), Mach Limit, Yes? (ACARS). Recovering with full power and nose up, that's the ranch, Hank. Especially if the pilots started a "recovery" before the a/p quit, and inputs were ADDITIVE. With an emphatic Pitch Up, the a/p quits, that is unlikely but possible. It's very quiet, must be post last call.
bearfoil
Last edited by bearfoil; 25th Aug 2010 at 22:47.