Aircraft Accident Investigation AST 425

Accident investigation Who is involved in an aircraft flight prior to an accident: Pilots Passengers ATC/FSS Personnel Airport Personnel

Accident Investigation After an accident this scope increases significantly: Site property owners Local authorities- law, CFR(Crash/Fire/Rescue) Medical Personnel- Coroner Families of victims Insurers Aircraft owner (if not pilot) Aircraft maintenance personnel

Accident Investigation Initial action at crash site: Medical attention for any survivors Preservation of evidence Notification of FAA/NTSB immediately Check for hazardous material- ie. Explosion hazards/radioactivity Place a guard on the wreckage- police, CAP, volunteers etc Protect wreckage from further deterioration Gather names & address of eyewitnesses

Accident Investigation Rescue Operations: Injured- record positions and seat number Dead- leave for on-scene investigator Remote victims- leave a stake with name & seat number if possible (to assist in victim ID).

Accident Investigation Rescue Operations ctn.: Record any disturbance of wreckage during rescue operations Try not to walk or drive over the wreckage tail

Accident Investigation When posting any guards inform them of any hazardous materials and remote wreckage sites- identify them with stakes (even sticks)

Accident Investigation Duties of crash site guards: To protect property To prevent disturbance of wreckage Admit only authorized personnel to crash site Protect and preserve ground marks Help rope off the area

Accident Investigation *It is important to arrange for de-fueling of the aircraft as soon as possible to protect others at the site- local CFR personnel

Accident Investigation Initial action of the independent investigator: Secure a letter of assignment from the entity who secured the investigation (family, insurance company, etc.) Obtain approval from the official government investigator in charge -IIC

Accident Investigation Investigator duties (ctn.): Secure the wreckage from further damage Photograph every detail of the crash Make sketches & measurements of wreckage & path Arrange for the storage of the wreckage Arrange for expert analysis of intricate or suspect parts Secure witnesses statements

Accident Investigation Once on scene the investigator will begin making a general survey of the accident scene which will include items such as: Impact angle and speed (four possible) –High speed high angle –High speed low angle –Low speed high angle –Low speed low angle

Accident Investigation Probable flight path Was the aircraft under control upon impact Did structural failure occur prior to impact Was the accident survivable

Accident investigation In order to do this, the on scene investigator will need such items as: –Camera & flash –Tape measure –Compass –Pad/Pen –Portable GPS –Maps/charts

Accident Investigation Investigator equipment ctn: Small hand tool Cell phone Light Brush hacker 1 st aid kit

Accident Investigation Upon completion of the general survey, the investigator will begin to focus on 4 main areas: –Recording physical evidence –Examining fire damage –Taking fluid samples –Preservation of the wreckage

Accident Investigation Photographs from the ground & air- On ground begin by photographing the perimeter of the accident every 30 degrees then moving to the cabin/cockpit to record: –Switch positions –Control handle positions –Condition of instruments –Condition of seats/structure

Accident Investigation Maps should have the crash site (s) plotted along with profile diagrams & sketches of the scene

Accident Investigation Examining fire damage- sources of ignition & combustible fluids etc. In-flight fire: –Soot in between the aluminum folds –Evidence of fire on downstream side of aircraft only –Eyewitness accounts of smoke trail

Accident Investigation On ground fire: –Heavy soot deposits –Only metals with a low melting pt. Are melted –Flame pattern discontinuity (ie. Not trailing along the slipstream as in flight).

Accident Investigation Investigator actions ctn.: –Take fluid samples (fuel, hydraulic fluid, etc.- checking for contamination, improper servicing)

Accident Investigation Investigator actions ctn.: –Preserve suspect parts prior to wreckage removal –Secure a local hangar where the wreckage can be temporarily stored

The End Questions?