PersonFromPorlock wrote:
While the last reported instrumentation readings may not be reliable for directly showing the flight path of the plane, they may still be indirect evidence of it. Assuming (yes, big 'if') that the sensors were still functioning properly, can anyone with knowledge of the plane's systems suggest what gyrations could produce those readings?
With regard to the altitude errors I'll add this.
The baro altitude is sensed either side of the aircraft and converted to a digital signal within a few inches of the static ports for the Capt and FOs systems. In normal flight, both sides sense the same static pressure, it's converted to a digital signal and sent to the ADIRUs. The ADIRUs sum this received signal to generate the Capt and FOs altitude. (ADIRU 1 for Capt, ADIRU 2 for FO)
Since the signal is summed a large discrepancy in sensed pressures (or a failed ADM) will cause a corresponding altitude error. ie. If one side sensed 20000' and the other side 10000' the ADIRU would compute 15000' and display that.
I would suggest an airplane horrifically tumbling out of control would most probably generate these errors before electrical power was lost completely.