Here's the animation of Colgan flight 3407 during the accident sequence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxywEE1kK6I&feature=fvsr
Was Captain Renslow pulling back on the yoke in order to maintain his altitude during the stall recovery? Since they never did stick pusher training in the sim, I'm wondering if, based on company training, he was concerned about losing a substantial amount of altitude if he lowered the nose. His nose high attitude kept him right around 2,300 feet (towards the end it wandered to 2,500 feet).
For you airline pilots out there...what is the purpose of a company training to maintain altitude during stall recovery? My thinking is that if you have sufficient altitude, why not use some of it to regain flying speed?
Here's a section from one of the NTSB reports (pg 35):
http://www.ntsb.gov/dockets/aviation...027/417441.pdf
5.1.4.3 Stall Training Q400
"The Colgan Air DHC-8 Q400 Series Simulation Training is described in Appendix F in the Training Manual, pages F-1 to F-13. The training described is for Q400 initial, transition, upgrade, recurrent and requalification pilot simulator training. Flight training events are described in detail for eight flight simulator training modules, the last of which is a check ride.
Stall training in the Q400 simulator training is conducted in lessons 1, 4 and 7 and stalls are evaluated on the proficiency check. The following training for stalls is programmed:
• Lesson One - Approach to Stall – takeoff, enroute, and landing configuration
• Lesson Four – Approach to Stall – takeoff and landing configuration
• Lesson Seven – Approach to Stall – landing configuration
5.1.4.4 Stall Profiles
Illustrations of the three stall profiles to be flown are depicted in the CFM, section ten, revision 1, pages 7-9.
The clean stall, which refers to a stall performed with gear and flaps retracted, is entered from an airspeed of 180 kts, at a minimum altitude of 5000’ AGL, and with power at flight idle. The pilot flying (PF) calls out “stall,” advances power to the rating detent, and states “check power.”
The profile says that during the stall the PF is to maintain heading and altitude. Power should be adjusted to maintain 180 kts to exit the maneuver.
The takeoff stall is entered at 180 kts, at a minimum altitude of 5000’ AGL, with flaps set to 15°, gear down, and power at flight idle.
The PF is to maintain heading and altitude during the maneuver and begin a 20° bank turn at 120 kts. The PF calls out “stall,” advances power to the rating detent, rolls wings level, and states “check power.” The PM calls out “positive rate,” the PF calls “gear up,” the PM calls “Vfri,” and the PF calls “flaps FACTUAL REPORT DCA09MA027350.” Power should be adjusted to maintain 180 kts to exit the maneuver.
The landing stall is entered at 180 kts, at a minimum altitude of 5000’ AGL, with flaps set to 35°, gear down, and power at flight idle.
The PF is to maintain heading and altitude during the maneuver. The PF calls out “stall,” advances power to the rating detent, and states “check power, flaps 15.” The pilot monitoring (PM) calls out “positive rate,” the PF calls “gear up,” the PM calls “Vfri,” and the PF calls “flaps 0.” Power should be adjusted to maintain 180 kts to exit the maneuver.
No reference is made to use of the autopilot.
It was stated in several interviews, that during the stall recovery exercises for initial simulator training, the candidates were instructed to maintain an assigned altitude and complete the recovery procedures while not deviating more than 100’ above or below the assigned altitude, as this was the practical test standards (PTS) for the check ride."
Here's a section from this NTSB report (pg 27):
http://www.ntsb.gov/dockets/aviation...027/431210.pdf
"The PTS standard is to recover from the stall with a minimal loss of altitude. See Operations Group Chairman Factual Report, pp. 36-37. During the stall recovery exercises for initial simulator training,
the candidates were instructed to maintain an assigned altitude and complete the recovery procedures with minimal altitude loss."
