How did the flight end, and how far from the arc?
Most likely: fuel exhaustion, loss of autopilot, and a steep spiral descent within a few tens of kilometres of the arcAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
Where it stands
Three answers have been proposed. Fuel exhaustion, loss of autopilot, and a steep spiral descent within a few tens of kilometres of the arc. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible.
Why it matters
Whether the aircraft spiralled down unpiloted or was glided determines whether the wreckage is within 25 nautical miles of the arc or up to 100[1]. It decides where any further search goes.
Answers 3
History
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau puts forward: fuel exhaustion, loss of autopilot, and a steep spiral descent within a few tens of kilometres of the arc.
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau puts forward: a pilot glided or ditched the aircraft after fuel exhaustion.
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau: the final BFO values indicate a rapid and increasing descent; simulator tests reproduced the pattern with no…For: Fuel exhaustion, loss of autopilot, and a steep spiral descent within a few tens of kilometres of the arc.
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau: the flaps were not extended at separation.For: Fuel exhaustion, loss of autopilot, and a steep spiral descent within a few tens of kilometres of the arc.
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau: a glide would contradict the final BFO descent rates unless the pilot recovered after them.Against: A pilot glided or ditched the aircraft after fuel exhaustion.
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau: the size and condition of recovered pieces have been read by some as consistent with a low-speed entry.For: A pilot glided or ditched the aircraft after fuel exhaustion.
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