Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Flight Deck Forums > Tech Log
Reload this Page >

AF 447 Thread No. 11

Wikiposts
Search

Notices
Tech Log The very best in practical technical discussion on the web

AF 447 Thread No. 11

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 16th November 2013 | 17:23
  #801 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
From: France - mostly
I didn't know that an A330 was capable of flying with an IAS <60 kts.
At less than 1 g, sure it can do that. Without stalling too.

The point is that the manufacturer of an AoA sensor can guarantee a certain accuracy only within a certain envelope. Outside that envelope any value derived from the sensor must be considered inaccurate and unreliable.

Last edited by HazelNuts39; 16th November 2013 at 17:50.
HazelNuts39 is offline  
Old 16th November 2013 | 18:03
  #802 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 0
From: UK
At less than 1 g, sure it can do that. Without stalling too.
How long can you maintain FL 410 at less than 1 g?
Outside that envelope any value derived from the sensor must be considered inaccurate and unreliable.
Even though the speed sensor is in error?
Brilliant logic! Best not tell the crew they are stalled then.
rudderrudderrat is offline  
Old 16th November 2013 | 18:38
  #803 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
From: France - mostly
Even though the speed sensor is in error?
You need a bit of hindsight to know that.
Best not tell the crew they are stalled then.
There were much more powerful indicators to tell the crew they were stalled. They were all ignored, just as the stall warning itself.
HazelNuts39 is offline  
Old 16th November 2013 | 19:33
  #804 (permalink)  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 801
Likes: 74
From: Germany
Hazelnuts
There were much more powerful indicators to tell the crew they were stalled. They were all ignored, just as the stall warning itself.
Hold the horses!
At the moment we are discussing the inconsistency of the stall warning, right?
Due to an airspeed, which was inconsistent in itself?
And therefore rendered an available AOA indication as unreliable?
And therefore caused the aural stall alert system to tell the crew "end of stall"?

And you think, that is a logic system in itself and not worth improving?
RetiredF4 is offline  
Old 16th November 2013 | 20:00
  #805 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
From: France - mostly
Due to an airspeed, which was inconsistent in itself?
Was it inconsistent?

And you think, that is a logic system in itself and not worth improving?
When did I say that?
HazelNuts39 is offline  
Old 16th November 2013 | 22:07
  #806 (permalink)  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 801
Likes: 74
From: Germany
Quote:
Due to an airspeed, which was inconsistent in itself?
Was it inconsistent?
First due to icing, later due to the high AoA


Quote:
And you think, that is a logic system in itself and not worth improving?
When did I say that?
I'm sorry if i misread your posts, but yes, you sound like you do.
RetiredF4 is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 07:08
  #807 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
From: France - mostly
Years ago I proposed that, if the AoA signal is lost while stall warning is active, the stall warning should continue until a valid AoA signal indicates that the AoA is less than the stall warning threshold.

However, one needs to be very careful avoid that the cure is worse than the disease. The whole issue is somewhat trivial compared to the need to avoid getting to an AoA of 42,5 degrees in the first place.
HazelNuts39 is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 07:51
  #808 (permalink)  
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 18,575
Likes: 4
From: UK
until a valid AoA signal indicates
- to the best of my knowledge, 447 never 'lost' a valid AoA signal?
the need to avoid getting to an AoA of 42,5 degrees in the first place.
- agreed.
The whole issue is somewhat trivial
- no - the lack of stall warning when the Captain arrived in the cockpit was non-'trivial'.
BOAC is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 08:18
  #809 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
From: France - mostly
to the best of my knowledge, 447 never 'lost' a valid AoA signal?
The ADIRU determines the vane angle from the sensor 'resolver' values. Possibly it applies a calibration of vane angle vs body angle of attack for the flap/slat configuration. If the airspeed is less than 60 kt CAS, the ADIRU transmits the value NCD (No Computed Data) instead of the AoA value (as I understand it). The stall warning function resides in the FMEGC which uses the AoA values it receives from the ADIRU's.

The stall warning was lost after the captain arrived in the cockpit.

Last edited by HazelNuts39; 17th November 2013 at 08:45.
HazelNuts39 is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 08:32
  #810 (permalink)  
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
 
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 18,575
Likes: 4
From: UK
Probably. That sounds suitably over-complicated.

So it never 'lost' a valid AoA SIGNAL as far as we know.
BOAC is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 08:56
  #811 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
From: France - mostly
That sounds suitably over-complicated.
Perhaps some PPRuNers tend to over-simplify?

So it never 'lost' a valid AoA SIGNAL as far as we know.
If you insist on having the last word, I'll leave it at that.

Last edited by HazelNuts39; 17th November 2013 at 09:18.
HazelNuts39 is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 10:42
  #812 (permalink)  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 801
Likes: 74
From: Germany
Hazelnuts39
The ADIRU determines the vane angle from the sensor 'resolver' values. Possibly it applies a calibration of vane angle vs body angle of attack for the flap/slat configuration. If the airspeed is less than 60 kt CAS, the ADIRU transmits the value NCD (No Computed Data) instead of the AoA value (as I understand it). The stall warning function resides in the FMEGC which uses the AoA values it receives from the ADIRU's.
HN, the logic and function of the stallwarning is understood. The question after AF447 is, wether this arrangement to use the speed signal as the only authority to verify the correctnes of an AOA over the total AOA regime is a clever one. I can understand that some input like speeds are necessary to compute the exact angle of attack. But what sense does that make in extreme AOA conditions, where high raw AOA data show the jet in the stalled condition anyway? Why not implement a logic, where an AOA value above the highest stall onset AOA bypasses the above logic and thus keeps the stall warning active? it cant be rocket science to do that.

To clarify my thoughts a simple example out of daily life. I'm wearing glasses like many people do. When i enter a moist room coming from the cold outside the glasses fog up. Instead of closing my eyes and being blind it has itself proved appropriate to remove the fogged up glasses and work with whatever eyesight is left.
RetiredF4 is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 10:59
  #813 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
From: France - mostly
Why not implement a logic, where an AOA value above the highest stall onset AOA bypasses the above logic and thus keeps the stall warning active?
I'm not a systems expert and have to leave the reply to your question to them. Considering what modifications are necessary to implement the BUSS, it sounds to me like a major redesign of the the whole system.

Last edited by HazelNuts39; 17th November 2013 at 11:10.
HazelNuts39 is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 12:02
  #814 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 0
From: France - mostly
ventus45,

even simpler would be providing an AoA indicator that shows a flag when AoA=NCD.
HazelNuts39 is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 13:48
  #815 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 0
From: W of 30W
Originally Posted by HN39
The stall warning was lost after the captain arrived in the cockpit.
How long after exactly ?
CONF iture is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 13:51
  #816 (permalink)  
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 543
Likes: 2
From: BOQ
even simpler would be providing an AoA indicator....
....*sigh*
OK465 is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 17:34
  #817 (permalink)  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 451
Likes: 0
From: somewhere
AoA indicator.

even simpler would be providing an AoA indicator....
AoA indicator was(is?) optional, what are the arguments to NOT opt for the AoA indicator?

@HN39:
Not to be picky but stall warning resides in FWC (Flight Warning Computer) not in FMGEC.
A33Zab is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 18:09
  #818 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,093
Likes: 0
From: UK
Originally Posted by CONF iture
Ok then where's the technical explanation on why the System refused to deliver Alpha Max ... ?
Because to the best of my knowledge nothing in the documentation ever implied that Alpha Prot, or even Alpha Max, were the equivalent of Critical AoA.

If you were you would read the Report first before spreading disinformation.
I'm not "spreading disinformation", and I challenge you to prove anything I've said recently to be wrong. I have not yet been able to source an English language version of the final report, and thus have to work from extracts.
DozyWannabe is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 18:37
  #819 (permalink)  
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 0
From: Germany
This is the final report BEA for the Habsheim crash (in french .. never seen it released in english so far)
Zippyshare.com - Rapport BEA Habsheim.pdf
jcjeant is offline  
Old 17th November 2013 | 19:46
  #820 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
Fleet Manager
25 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,441
Likes: 306
From: various places .....
Folks,

We've had a few complaints about introducing Habsheim in this thread. If folks see a need to discuss, please raise a second thread to keep the two easier to follow.
john_tullamarine is online now  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.