David Learmount/LONDON
The Gulf Air Airbus Industrie A320 which crashed into the sea off Bahrain impacted the water with a 6.5° nose down pitch, maximum power, airspeed of 280kt (520km/h), with flap at 2°, according to the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs department quoting information from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR).
There is no evidence so far of any aircraft malfunction during the fatal attempted go-around, and the ground proximity warning system gave first "sink rate" and then continuous "pull up" warnings as the aircraft headed for impact. At the "pull up" warnings the captain ordered "flaps all the way" [fully up] and began to pull back on his sidestick.
The night go-around followed an unsuccessful first approach, but the captain judged the aircraft too high and fast for a safe landing. At his request the aircraft was cleared for a left orbit on approach, starting at 700ft (210m) with under 0.8km (0.5nm) to go to the runway threshold. The orbit was tight at 36° maximum bank and during it the speed decreased from 200kt to 160kt and height to 350ft while the crew simultaneously carried out the pre-landing checks. The aircraft went well beyond the runway extended centreline with gear down and flaps fully down before the captain realised again that a landing from the approach was impossible. Air traffic control cleared the A320 to climb to 2,500ft and turn left onto 300° for radar vectors to the final approach.
The aircraft never turned left beyond about 040° heading, but the crew applied full power, selected gear up and flaps to setting 3, and the pitch to 5° nose up. As the aircraft accelerated through 185kt the overspeed aural warning operated (too fast for the flap setting) and the first officer stated "overspeed limit". The report states: "Within seconds, the FDR indicates forward movement of the captain's sidestick and pitch gradually decreased to 15° nose down and the aircraft entered a rapid descent."
Source: Flight International
