Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
On right downwind for Runway 22 at AVP we were at 4;000 FT. Since the visibility was excellent; we were expecting the visual and let approach control know we had the runway in sight. We were Flaps 9 at about 200 KTS. When nearly abeam the IAF for the 22 ILS; we were cleared for the visual. I was flying on autopilot; and turned the airplane toward the IAF. I selected 2;800 FT in the altitude selector and started down at about 1;000 FPM (to the best of my memory; a descent rate I normally begin with in this regime of flight). We were at about 3-4 miles from the IAF when I started us down. We knew about the ridge we were flying over; briefed the MSA (4;000 FT); and discussed that we'll probably get cleared for the approach after the very obvious antennae farm on the ridge. I even mentioned that '...if you're not careful around here I bet you could get at GPWS over this ridge.' Once established on the descent; the airplane announced at us 'Terrain; Terrain Whoop; Whoop Pull Up Landing Gear' all at the same time. By instinct; I quick disconnected and started pitching up and adding power. As soon as all this happened; the warnings went away; the ridge was behind us; and we continued with a normal landing. We both noticed the RA and I remember seeing greater than 1;400 AGL when the warning sounded. I think there was a descent awareness of the ridge we were paralleling on downwind; and the error made was possibly descending too steeply until getting over the ridge. No where on any charts are there any warnings other than the MSA circle; and depicted antennae. The Controller cleared us for the visual in a manner that seemed to give the impression that he was aware of the ridge; too; and the timing of the clearance seemed very appropriate for the terrain. Since we could see the outline of the terrain on the ground; and no continued warnings; we decided to make a normal landing. If we were IMC; there's no doubt that I would have busted out of that area in a climb like no other. I would have thought that we lost our SA and we were some place we shouldn't be. Neither one of us had terrain up on the MFD; and I'm not sure this would have changed the flight path. I've been here before; and never thought the terrain to be a big threat; but a threat to be aware of regardless. I'm sure I'll be using terrain mapping more.
An air carrier crew briefed an AVP Runway 22 night visual approach including terrain and antenna awareness but executed the escape maneuver following a brief EGPWS warning while above 2;800 FT MSL; then continued the visual.