Misinterpreting the Stick Shaker?
I read the article “Startled and Confused” (ASW, 3/10, p. 20) regarding the crash of a Colgan Air Bombardier Q400 on approach to Buffalo Niagara (New York, U.S.) International Airport and came to a conclusion that may explain the flight crew’s inappropriate response to the stick shaker. I believe that the crew was so involved with the discussion of the effects of the icing conditions that they failed to recognize their deteriorating airspeed. Consequently, when the stick shaker activated while the flaps were traveling between the 10- and 15-degree selection, the crew misinterpreted the stick shaker as a tailplane stall.
Application of power and a rigorous pull force on the control column would be an appropriate response to a tailplane stall. Retracting the flaps to the previous setting is also an appropriate re…
