Summary:
- Aircraft had a history of numerous Rudder Travel Limiter Unit faults which were never resolved
- During the accident flight, the crew received three consecutive Master Cautions related to the RTLUs, which they cleared via ECAM actions
- After a fourth Master Caution, FAC 1 & 2 were reset by pulling the Circuit Breakers
- The aircraft went to Alternate Law
- Aircraft rolled 54 degrees left
- FO applied sidestick input to roll right and pitch up
- FO continued to pitch up as the aircraft zoomed to 38,000 ft at 11,000 fpm
- Aircraft entered a stall
- FO continued to apply maximum pitch up (until the end of recording)
- Captain attempted to take over by pressing the left-sidestick priority button for 2 seconds (*)
- DUAL INPUT activated and the aircraft continued to pitch up
- Captain attempted another take over by pressing the sidestick priority button for 2 seconds (*)
- Aircraft recorded lowest speed of 55 kts, 104 degrees left roll, and then descended at up to 20,000 fpm until the end of recording
(*) The sidestick priority button doesn't latch unless it is activated continuously for 40 seconds