Flight System Sensor Failure

Abstract

Modern airliners from all OEMs rely on a variety of sensors to accurately measure aircraft speed, angle of attack, and whether ice is building up on important surfaces. This chapter details the events that occurred on Air France flight 447 flying between Rio de Janeiro and Paris. The aircraft entered an area of significant meteorological disturbance near the equator which produced icing conditions over several instruments (including the pitot probe measuring airspeed). The resulting ice buildup on the speed sensor produced a problem for the flight control computer which was exacerbated by copilot input. The resulting loss of control meant the entire aircraft, passengers, and crew were lost.