I would add 2 things to the FD discussion...
1. They had most probably never seen a situation where the FD bars disappeared and then returned
2. As A33Zab says, the bars flash for a short period and then go steady (like the flashing lights on an ambulance can draw your attention before you hear the siren)
Most of the returns weren't long enough for the bars to go steady, but the return when pitch had finally been reduced to 5.6 degrees would have flashed AND then gone steady, possibly a falsely reassuring appearance of overall system validity...
Three more things...
1. At the apex, it would only take a couple of seconds of ill-advised following of what could have been a fairly subtle initial FD command to stall the aircraft, the subsequent initial aircraft reaction and physical flight indications not necessarily being a 'hit you over the head' indication of a valid accompanying SW audio.
2. The FD's should not have remained selected
3. We'll probably never know
Last edited by OK465; 5th June 2012 at 22:16.
Reason: 'falsely' added