Air Asia Indonesia Lost Contact from Surabaya to Singapore

[peekay4]

@Chronus

The P2`s question is in fact an expression of surprise. Does it not suggest that the the indicated responses he expected by the instruments do not conform to his actions. He is baffled and cannot understand why the situation is worsening.

The FO most likely had The Leans, a strong sensory illusion (disorientation) when an aircraft abruptly returns to level flight from an unnoticed turn.

See extract from pg. 48 of the Final Report below:



(guide numbers added)

1. FAC1 & FAC2 off, aircraft enters Alternate Law and started to roll 6 degrees / second to the left unnoticed (roll position indicated by sloping purple line)
2. FO finally notices the AI after nine seconds and, startled, makes abrupt right roll to level the aircraft. (Black/Grey lines indicate right/left aileron positions)
3. At this point QZ8501 is nearly level, FO relaxes roll inputs to neutral
4. FO is disoriented due to the leans, thinks the aircraft is now in steep right turn and quickly rolls the aircraft back to the left
5. The aircraft is back near the original 54 degree left roll position, which feels "level" to the FO

The FO was likely disoriented all the way to the ground. The Captain might have been less affected due to his different physical position and his previous experience as a fighter pilot.