In an Airbus, if the AOA sensor fails and the computer pitches the plane down, can the computer still only pitch down 10 degrees maximum? For example, something similar to Qantas Flight 72. 

Assuming the Angle of Attack sensors are faulty and give bogus data - for example, that the Angle of Attack is 20 degrees, or the maximum Angle of Attack when the plane is flying normally and in no danger of stalling. 

The flight protection systems are going to kick in and try and pitch the plane down because the computers will think the plane is stalling or about to stall because of the (bogus) Angle of Attack readings. 

Would the computer still be restricted in how far it can pitch the nose down? For example would it suddenly angle down but stop at 10 degrees nose down, or would it go into a ballistic, unrestricted and dangerously steep dive? 

I read a pilot in an Airbus cannot make the plane pitch down more than 10 or so degrees in ''Normal Law'', would this apply if the plane's computers are trying to pitch the plane down due to faulty AOA sensor data?
The answer below is for the A320, as this is the only Airbus manual I have access to.


  would it go into a ballistic, unrestricted and dangerously steep dive


It'd likely stop somewhere before that. "Abnormal attitude law" engages when:


Bank angle above 125°
Pitch above 50° nose up or below 30° nose down
KIAS below 60 to 90, or above 440
Mach above 0.91
AoA above 30° to 40°, or below -10°


I believe the FAC will also give up at some point as the computed KIAS is so far away from what is measured. If it is a double ADR failure or double FAC failure it will go down to Alternate Law. If it is a triple failure it would go to Direct Law, as was the case of GXL888T.