Maybe in this incident use of AS hold rather than VS would have been better - at least then the consequence of inadequate power set would have been a higher ROD from the outset and when the radalt warning sounded, assuming neither crew picked up the ROD cue, pitching up into a climb with the heave of collective would have avoided the VRS that took them into the sea.
Absolutely Spot On!
Ask yourself which Flight Control was most crucial in this whole thing....and which parameter is the one that is required to change to carry out the maneuver?
In this case....altitude change was the primary focus and airspeed could have been left alone from the start.
I know it sounds a bit elementary to suggest a well trained crew can not adjust two parameters simultaneously.....and that is not what I am saying.
If an Approach Airspeed had been set first.....then the descent initiated.....then an incorrect power setting would have been the very first thing to show up and be corrected as the Collective would have been an "Active" control. One Pilot would have had his grubby mitt busy working the Lever to maintain the ROD while the AFCS was maintaining the Airspeed.
Be the Approach Speed been 110 Kts or 80 Kts......it would have made very slight difference. It is not like the aircraft were lined up by the dozens to land at Sumbrugh that day.