CliveL
However, what seems to be missing in this discussion - at least I have never seen it mentioned, is that if you lose the complete VS you leave all the hydraulic pipes supplying the rudder open to the atmosphere. Depending on how many of your hydraulic systems go up the VS you are likely to lose all hydraulic power and hence control in either axis.
Exactly. And none of the ACARS messages referred to hydraulic failure, and a hydraulic failure would definitely be the subject of a maintenance ACARS message.
Therefore the VS was on until water impact. Please, no more "They lost the VS before water impact." It is a lunatic theory.