270 likes | 734 Views
National Transportation Safety Board- NTSB. AST 425. NTSB. What is the NTSB?- It is an independent federal accident investigation agency responsible for the investigation of all transportation related accidents.
E N D
NTSB • What is the NTSB?- It is an independent federal accident investigation agency responsible for the investigation of all transportation related accidents. • The NTSB was formed in 1966 as a part of the DOT act and was placed under the DOT (Department of Transportation) • NTSB was made independent in 1974 by the NTSB Act.
NTSB • The NTSB mission is: • To determine the “probable cause” of transportation accidents • To formulate safety recommendations designed to improve transportation safety
NTSB • Scope: • The NTSB is required to determine the probable cause of the following types of accidents: • Civil Aviation Accidents • Major Highway Accidents • Passenger train accidents involving fatalities • Major Marine Accidents • Pipeline Accedents
NTSB • Aviation Accidents Investigated: • Responsible for all aviation accidents but typically are only directly involved in those involving fatalities- the rest are “delegated” by a letter of agreement (LOA) to the FAA- Based on workload and staffing and varies from year to year. • FAA investigates all ag., homebuilt/experimental accidents
NTSB • The NTSB investigates thousands of accidents annually • All air carrier accidents • All in-flight collisions • All fatal general aviation accidents • All air-taxi accidents • All accidents involving large aircraft (greater than 12,500 lbs.)
NTSB- Other Responsibilities • The 1974 NTSB Act requires the NTSB to: -Conduct special studies on safety problems -Mid-Air collisions -Runway Incursions -In-fight icing- regional airliners- AE 4184 Since NTSB’s creation accidents have gone down considerably (Chapter 2)
NTSB Other Responsibilities- Ctn. • Evaluate the effectiveness of government agencies involved with transportation including: • FAA- over 90 % of the recommendations made to the FAA by the NTSB are acted upon favorably- FAA is required by law to respond. • NHTSA
NTSB Other Responsibilities Ctn. • Evaluate the safeguards used in the transportation of hazardous materials • Review appeals from: • Airman and merchant seamen whose certificates have been suspended or revoked Make an annual report to congress on the State of Transportation Safety
NTSB structure • Made up of 5 members appointed by the president for a 5 year term- confirmed by the senate • The chairman and vice chairman are appointed to serve for typically two years (although the last one, Jim Hall served for 5-6 years) • 340 Total Employees Nationwide- only 75 dedicated to the “air mode”
NTSB structure ctn. • Headquartered in Washington DC. With 5 regional and 4 field offices in: • Chicago, Anchorage, Atlanta, Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Denver, and Seattle -These field offices investigate about 99% of the accidents under the NTSB’s jurisdiction
NTSB Structure • The GO-Team in Wash. DC. Investigates an average of 10-12 accidents per year. • Headquartered in DC • On 24 hour alert- must go anywhere in the world on 2 hours notice- fly in the NTSB G-IV • 8-12 member team- rotating duty- headed by one of the 5 board members • Reserved for major carrier accidents
NTSB- GO TEAM • Consists of various specialists- metallurgy, avionics, ATC, maintenance, flight, etc. • Usually on site for one or two weeks or less • “Jump Start” an investigation • Send evidence for laboratory analysis- back in DC. Or where specialized services are offered- ie. Aeromedical- OK. City OK.
NTSB • Laboratory analysis • Analyze “Black Boxes”- Flight Date Recorders (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) • Analyzing wreckage for: • Inadequate design • Excessive loading • Fatigue/Corrision • Etc.
NTSB Recommendation • The Recommendation- End product of the investigation: • Recs. Are issued as soon as they are discovered- don’t await the final report which can take months • Identifies person/s or agencies (FAA, manufacturers, etc.) that need to take action and describes the action which needs to be taken.
Chronology Ctn. • States the safety need to be satisfied • DOT (FAA) must respond within 90 days
Chronology Ctn. • Public Hearing held to: • Collect more information • Air at a public forum the issues involved in an accident
Chronology Ctn. • Final Report- publication which gives accident details as well as a “probable cause” for the accident. Results have been used to make systemic improvements such as: • Pilot training • Aircraft Maintenance • ATC procedures • Survival Equipment Requirements
Major Accident Chronology • Go Team on site • Site Analysis • Public Hearing • Laboratory Analysis • Safety Recommendations • Public Hearing • Final Report • Publication Made Public
NTSB Ctn. • NTSB investigates approx. 2400 aviation accidents per year. • Each regional office investigates approximately 400 per year- 60 delegated to FAA- 12 – 13 employees each- huge workload! • Go Team investigates approx 10-12 per year