Quote from Winnerhofer (post #1345) :
"They entered a climb as the Auto Trim motored smoothly to full NU, where it stayed until impact."
Not quite...
The function of any auto-trim system is to remove the necessity for the PF or AP to continue to command the deflection of a primary flight control. In this case the auto-trim is concerned with pitch control, and adjusts the incidence (angle) of the THS (trim-able horizontal stabiliser) to enable the elevators to return to neutral in a few seconds after they have been deflected to comply with a command from the pilot or AP for a pitch-change (actually, in the case of C*, a change in normal G).
So in AF447 the THS "motored", as designed, in reaction to persistent pitch-up inputs from the PF's sidestick; inputs which were inappropriate once the aircraft had returned to the correct indicated altitude and which led in due course to an aerodynamic stall. That was allowed in turn to progress to a deep stall which the crew did not identify as such.
Quote from Machinbird:
"CRM went immediately out the window, and his PM was clearly distressed by his performance. This is the type of situation that could be expected to create strong fear in both individuals right at the start of the non-normal event.
I think that if we look within ourselves, we will agree with this statement also, and that is an opening into a discussion of fear in the cockpit."
Yes, I concur with that.