Flexibility in the ATR 72’s pitch control system between the control columns results in a change in the aircraft’s longitudinal handling qualities and control dynamics when dual control inputs are made. This could result in an aircraft-pilot coupling event where flight crew may find it difficult to control the aircraft.
On 24 April 2019, after being informed of the safety issue and offered additional review of the draft report, ATR advised the ATSB:
The flexibility in the ATR72’s pitch control system between the control columns is not inducing a specific issue in the aircraft’s longitudinal handling qualities. The design assumption on all large commercial transport aircraft is one ‘pilot flying’. As provided in previous comments standard operating procedures are set up to preclude occurrence of dual input.
ATR acknowledges the addition of new pages to the final report that relate to Longitudinal Handling qualities and are using “Etkin’s” curves to substantiate the analysis. ATR has a different interpretation of the analysis of rigid system vs. flexible system. Indeed, the “Etkin’s” curves will be modified in case of any dual input, whatever the configurations (rigid or flexible).
For the event under investigation, the 3.34g load experienced in the longitudinal axis (before the declutch) have been obtained through dual application on the commands in the same direction. In this case, the “Etkin’s” curve modification will be of the same order for flexible and rigid control column interconnection system. Moreover, the aircraft response was consistent with the flight crew inputs during the event.
Aircraft-pilot coupling (pilot-induced oscillation) is a recognized phenomenon within the industry. ATR has addressed for example during the ATR operators Flight Safety Conference the in-service experience of large rudder inputs during landing roll resulting in larger than expected aircraft movements. ATR would be happy to further discuss APC for this event, considering the safety issue was raised in the latest version of the report.
However, the consequences of dual input would need to be taken into account as one pilot will react non-linearly to the other pilot input. The system to consider is the system considering and not only the . This is fully described in the document reference 98 mentioned in the provided draft report (Aviation Safety and Pilot Control – Understanding and preventing Unfavorable Pilot-Vehicle Interactions). Therefore, the note 99 of the draft report is also applicable to rigid systems and is thus independent of the location of the interconnection point.
Finally, ATR would like to recall that the following actions have been taken at various industry levels:
- ATR released the AOM42/72/2016/03 and revised the FCOM/AFM/QRH to raise crew awareness regarding the potential detrimental effect of uncoordinated crew input and/or large and aggressive flight control input at high speed.
- EASA released the SIB 2016-20 rev.1 to highlight the risks associated to rapid and large alternating control inputs.
- EASA added the “Inappropriate Flight Control Inputs” item to its risk portfolio in the frame of their risk management system, recognizing this is an industry concern. It will cover the issue of simultaneous inputs, as well as inputs of large amplitude or frequency inadequate for the flight phase at the event.
- Paragraph 5.3 of the ICAO Airplane Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Aid revision 3 (AUPRTA https://www.icao.int/safety/LOCI/AUPRTA/index.html).
ATSB comment/action in response
Analysis in this report, based upon ATR supplied data, has shown that dual control inputs occur at a rate that, were they any other system failure mode, would be considered ‘probable’. As such, standard operating procedures have not been shown to sufficiently protect the aircraft from dual control inputs.
The ATSB acknowledges that the referenced document relating to aircraft-pilot coupling applies to both flexible and rigid interconnected aircraft, as was detailed in the draft version of the report; however, the ATSB’s analysis shows that the rigid and flexible systems respond differently to dual control inputs. In their response, ATR do not identify any deficiencies in the ATSB’s detailed analysis in either the safety analysis section, or appendix C, and have not provided sufficient evidence and/or argument to convince the ATSB that the aircraft does not have a susceptibility to aircraft-pilot coupling events when dual control inputs are made.
The potential implications of the effects of flexibility on the response of the elevators to dual control inputs was not fully understood by the ATSB until late in the investigation and was somewhat the result of feedback from the directly involved parties on the draft report. In order to properly determine whether there are any longitudinal handling issues specific to ATR aircraft from dual control inputs, and ensure the continued safe operation of the aircraft, the ATSB makes the following safety recommendation.
The ATSB recommends that ATR perform a detailed review of the effects of dual control inputs on the aircraft’s longitudinal handling qualities and control dynamics to determine if there are any detrimental effects that could lead to difficulty in controlling the aircraft throughout the approved flight envelope and operational range. Any issues identified should be appropriately dealt with.
