Atlas 767 went down in Houston
#713
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2011
Posts: 150
The reason I even bring it up is it might explain how the pitch can get so out of whack with the autopilot still “engaged”. Especially if it was a transfer of controls back and forth and one not realizing the other had selected CWS. If the airplane was trimmed in such a way that the descent angle continues to increase and one crew member is trying to manipulate the MCP to no avail, it might explain the conversation “consistent with loss of control” that the NTSB said was on the CVR...again, I’m just trying to counter the “ill intent” view with possibile scenarios...whatever the case, once that aircraft hit 49 degrees nose down, I don’t know if it would even be possible to recover from at that altitude...and my guess, getting it back to 20 degrees nose down at the end was probably a pretty aggressive maneuver in and of itself at those speeds and descent rates...
#714
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,503
The reason I even bring it up is it might explain how the pitch can get so out of whack with the autopilot still “engaged”. Especially if it was a transfer of controls back and forth and one not realizing the other had selected CWS. If the airplane was trimmed in such a way that the descent angle continues to increase and one crew member is trying to manipulate the MCP to no avail, it might explain the conversation “consistent with loss of control” that the NTSB said was on the CVR...again, I’m just trying to counter the “ill intent” view with possibile scenarios...whatever the case, once that aircraft hit 49 degrees nose down, I don’t know if it would even be possible to recover from at that altitude...and my guess, getting it back to 20 degrees nose down at the end was probably a pretty aggressive maneuver in itself at those speeds and descent rates...
I've never messed with CWS so no idea. That being said when I was messing with stuff in the sim if the airplane is trimmed and you push to -50 and let go (without automation on) it will self correct to about -20 at about 700 ft.
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#715
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2014
Posts: 281
Could it have been something as simple as the aircraft flying into a massive downdraft/wind shear with the autopilot engaged with an altitude select function still engaged as well? The autopilot's reaction was at odds with what normally have been done manually, namely level the nose and apply a lot of power to arrest the descent. The airplane basically stalled, they punched off the autopilot and added max power but it was too late.
#716
Or we could just let the NTSB investigate and find out what really happened. But keep up the MS Flight Sim investigation 🙄🙄🙄🙄 it’s super professional of you.
#717
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Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,273
Could it have been something as simple as the aircraft flying into a massive downdraft/wind shear with the autopilot engaged with an altitude select function still engaged as well? The autopilot's reaction was at odds with what normally have been done manually, namely level the nose and apply a lot of power to arrest the descent. The airplane basically stalled, they punched off the autopilot and added max power but it was too late.
#718
In a land of unicorns
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Position: Whale FO
Posts: 6,469
The reason I even bring it up is it might explain how the pitch can get so out of whack with the autopilot still “engaged”. Especially if it was a transfer of controls back and forth and one not realizing the other had selected CWS. If the airplane was trimmed in such a way that the descent angle continues to increase and one crew member is trying to manipulate the MCP to no avail, it might explain the conversation “consistent with loss of control” that the NTSB said was on the CVR...again, I’m just trying to counter the “ill intent” view with possibile scenarios...whatever the case, once that aircraft hit 49 degrees nose down, I don’t know if it would even be possible to recover from at that altitude...and my guess, getting it back to 20 degrees nose down at the end was probably a pretty aggressive maneuver in and of itself at those speeds and descent rates...
"other had selected CWS". That's not how CWS works.
#719
Agreed. No way are two experienced guys going to just let the AP pitch them over into the dirt.
#720
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Joined APC: Jan 2011
Posts: 150
Full disclosure, I have no working knowledge of the 767. On my aircraft there is a tile on the glareshield that will switch between CMD and CWS. If you select CWS it will remain in that mode until you select that tile again. It is really not used much, except on occasion when CMD mode is not maintaining airspeed very well, for example. I’m guessing you are very familiar with the 767, so I will assume your comment about 767 CWS is valid.
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