Re: why the CVR ceased recording
Re: why the CVR ceased recording
1. Most likely (but NOT only) scenario seems to be CB pulled to conceal what was being discussed or might be discussed -- from fuel situation to 'we did it before' or the financial and other implications if they did stop for fuel, or any discussion of how airline got the contract or would get others, or ???
2. Yet it seems premature to rule out another possibility: that someone with access to the cockpit other than the Cptn -- whether FO, "observer," or ??? -- who heard or learned of the fuel discussions -- pulled the CB to preserve a CVR record of what had been discussed thus far, including that Cptn (and others) knew short on fuel yet decided against stopping.
Perhaps this person had disagreed with the decision and wanted that dissent recorded. Or simply had no say in the matter.
3. The "to preserve a record" scenario admittedly is less likely than "to coverup what was going to be said thereafter" scenario.
But we don't yet know what is on the portion of the CVR that was preserved. Some related info might also be informative (eg, was someone momentarily out of the cabin when the CVR stopped recording? Was the CB accessible from the observer position, or ?)
4. In theory the stoppage also could have been unintentional. But that seems relatively low on the probability list.