2. then a 2min 10 sec period in which orientation varies sufficiently that ACARS is interrupted: can't send (29 sec), then can (29 sec), then can't (31 sec), then can (16 sec), then can't (17 sec), then can (12 sec). Note that the periods are roughly equivalent, but shortening. Then some unknown time, max 54 sec, to impact, but effectively flat and able to send ACARS.
I was wondering a bit the same why BEA only considered one of those phases where there was a delay as a loss of signal.
If all these phases were due to loss of signal, that would indicate really severe movement of the aircraft.
As to what kind of attitude would fit to that:
Maybe a 'Falling Leaf'.
However I'm not sure if a swept wing airliner is susceptible to that. I'm not aware of any previous case of an airliner coming down in a genuine 'Falling Leaf' attitude.
A simple spin probably won't do.
On the other hand I'm a bit surprised that BEA doesn't know if it was due to weak signal. I would have assumed the SATCOM provider should be able to determine that.