2. Party Process

3. The Party Process The Safety Board investigates more than 2,000 aviation accidents and incidents a year and about 500 rail, highway, marine and pipeline accidents. With only about 400 employees, the NTSB accomplishes this task by leveraging its resources and designating parties to its investigations.

4. NTSB regulations state, in part, that “parties to the field phase shall be limited to  Those persons, government agencies, companies and associations whose employees, functions, activities, or products were involved in the accident or incident, and NTSB regulations state, in part, that “parties to the field phase shall be limited to  Those persons, government agencies, companies and associations whose employees, functions, activities, or products were involved in the accident or incident, and The Party Process

5. who can provide suitable qualified technical personnel to actively assist in the field investigation” The Party Process

6. The IIC designates parties on scene The participation of accredited representatives from foreign countries is established under the provisions of Annex 13 of the International Convention on Civil Aviation which is administered by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) The IIC designates parties on scene The participation of accredited representatives from foreign countries is established under the provisions of Annex 13 of the International Convention on Civil Aviation which is administered by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

7. The NTSB has complete discretion over which organizations it designates as parties, except FAA, which is a party by law

8. Typically, parties include:  FAA (by law)  Air carrier  Airframe manufacturer  Engine manufacturer Typically, parties include:  FAA (by law)  Air carrier  Airframe manufacturer  Engine manufacturer

9.  Major component manufacturer  Pilot, ATC, maintenance and flight attendant union representatives  Local airport and law enforcement  Major component manufacturer  Pilot, ATC, maintenance and flight attendant union representatives  Local airport and law enforcement

10. Absolutely no news media, company media relations, attorneys, or insurance personnel are permitted to participate in any phase of the investigation, including meetings

11. Who to Send to an Accident: Parties to an investigation should send the following:  Party coordinator/ spokesperson  Employees with expertise in the technical areas, (structures, systems, operations, etc.) Parties to an investigation should send the following:  Party coordinator/ spokesperson  Employees with expertise in the technical areas, (structures, systems, operations, etc.)

12. Party Coordinator:  Should not be assigned to a group  Supervises the group members from his/her organization  Works directly to support the IIC  Should not be assigned to a group  Supervises the group members from his/her organization  Works directly to support the IIC

13. Party Coordinator:  Must be able to speak for and make decisions for the organization they represent  Remains near or in contact with the IIC/command center at all times  Is responsible for ensuring that NTSB rules are followed  Must be able to speak for and make decisions for the organization they represent  Remains near or in contact with the IIC/command center at all times  Is responsible for ensuring that NTSB rules are followed

14. Party Coordinator: The party coordinator is required to sign a form titled “statement of party representatives to NTSB investigations” which specifies that all members of their organization have read the applicable rules and regulations governing the investigation and agree to abide by them.

15. Party Specialists:  Must be a full-time employee of the party (no consultants)  Must possess needed expertise in group subject  Must be a full-time employee of the party (no consultants)  Must possess needed expertise in group subject

16. Party Specialists:  Work under direct supervision of the group chairman  Must abide by the NTSB’s rules and procedures  Work under direct supervision of the group chairman  Must abide by the NTSB’s rules and procedures

17. No independent investigations by parties or group members are permitted No information will be withheld from the NTSB No independent investigations by parties or group members are permitted No information will be withheld from the NTSB

18. What to Prepare For Upon a launch to a major investigation, group team members should be prepared for:  Extended work hours lasting 7 to 21 days or more  Travel to off-site locations for follow-up group activities (such as tear down activities) Upon a launch to a major investigation, group team members should be prepared for:  Extended work hours lasting 7 to 21 days or more  Travel to off-site locations for follow-up group activities (such as tear down activities)

19. What to Prepare For  Potential for extreme environmental, physical and psychological stress while on-site  “Team concept” cooperation and spirit Once a specialist is assigned to a group, substitutions are highly discouraged  Potential for extreme environmental, physical and psychological stress while on-site  “Team concept” cooperation and spirit Once a specialist is assigned to a group, substitutions are highly discouraged

20. Protective Measures  Any party specialist who might be called upon to participate in wreckage retrieval should have current tetanus and hepatitis-B inoculations  Federal regulations require investigators to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while on scene to protect against bloodborne pathogens like hepatitis-B and HIV  Party members must supply their own PPE  Any party specialist who might be called upon to participate in wreckage retrieval should have current tetanus and hepatitis-B inoculations  Federal regulations require investigators to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while on scene to protect against bloodborne pathogens like hepatitis-B and HIV  Party members must supply their own PPE

21. Lines of Authority for Conflict Resolution  Director, Office of Aviation Safety  IIC – accredited representative  Party coordinator  Group chairman  Group member If problems arise, they should be brought to the attention of the group chairman and IIC immediately for resolution in consultation with the respective party coordinators or accredited representatives  Director, Office of Aviation Safety  IIC – accredited representative  Party coordinator  Group chairman  Group member If problems arise, they should be brought to the attention of the group chairman and IIC immediately for resolution in consultation with the respective party coordinators or accredited representatives

22. Group Representation  Group members are responsible for pointing out discrepancies in factual reports  Issues regarding the scope of the investigation, findings or the content of factual notes should be resolved with the group chairman  If issues cannot be resolved at this level, the party coordinator and group chairman should apprise the IIC for resolution  Group members are responsible for pointing out discrepancies in factual reports  Issues regarding the scope of the investigation, findings or the content of factual notes should be resolved with the group chairman  If issues cannot be resolved at this level, the party coordinator and group chairman should apprise the IIC for resolution

23. Group Representation  If a satisfactory resolution is not forthcoming, the coordinator should request that the IIC raise the issue to the chief, major investigations division for resolution  A full set of all final group chairman’s factual reports with attachments are provided to party coordinators upon completion  If a satisfactory resolution is not forthcoming, the coordinator should request that the IIC raise the issue to the chief, major investigations division for resolution  A full set of all final group chairman’s factual reports with attachments are provided to party coordinators upon completion

24. Discussions About the Investigation  Parties and group members are prohibited from speaking about investigative findings with the news media or public  Group members should advise their coordinators of pertinent information, but should refrain from speculating or analyzing unsubstantiated information  Parties and group members are prohibited from speaking about investigative findings with the news media or public  Group members should advise their coordinators of pertinent information, but should refrain from speculating or analyzing unsubstantiated information

25. Completion of On-Scene Phase Before being released from the scene, all group members must:  Assist in the completion of field notes that accurately record the evidence gathered at the accident site  Sign the field notes or indicate discrepancies  No group member is released from the scene until their group’s on-scene investigation is complete and the factual field notes have been reviewed, initialed by each group member and approved by the IIC Before being released from the scene, all group members must:  Assist in the completion of field notes that accurately record the evidence gathered at the accident site  Sign the field notes or indicate discrepancies  No group member is released from the scene until their group’s on-scene investigation is complete and the factual field notes have been reviewed, initialed by each group member and approved by the IIC

26. Post On-Scene Phase Parties in good standing are invited to participate is several ways after the on-scene phase. They will be asked to participate in:  Scheduled hearings held in furtherance of the investigation  Followup tests, interviews or studies initiated by their group  The technical review of the completeness of the factual portion of the investigation Parties in good standing are invited to participate is several ways after the on-scene phase. They will be asked to participate in:  Scheduled hearings held in furtherance of the investigation  Followup tests, interviews or studies initiated by their group  The technical review of the completeness of the factual portion of the investigation

27. Final Report  Parties do not participate in the analysis of the draft final report, however  Parties can contribute to the analytical process by submitting their own findings, recommendations and probable cause based on the factual reports  Parties do not participate in the analysis of the draft final report, however  Parties can contribute to the analytical process by submitting their own findings, recommendations and probable cause based on the factual reports

28. Final Report These ‘party submissions’ become part of the public docket and are considered by staff and the Board Members before adoption of the final report by the Board

29. Other Party Responsibilities The party system is designed to provide factual information as it is discovered. Parties are encouraged to take immediate corrective action to prevent a similar accident if factual information uncovered during the investigation warrants such action. However, the party coordinator is expected to apprise the IIC of any such actions before they are taken