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Aircraft Accident Investigation

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

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Aircraft Accident Investigation

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  1. Aircraft Accident Investigation AST 425

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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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).

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

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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

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

  14. 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

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

  16. 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

  17. 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

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

  19. 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

  20. 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).

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

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

  23. The End Questions?

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