1. Air Safety Investigator Western Pacific Region
Michael Huhn
Air Safety Investigator
Western Pacific Region

2. Been Here/Done This?

3. Or This?

4. Or Worse,This?

5. Outline Introductions Investigative Participants
Investigative Process & Goals
Your Role(s)
Specifics/Details
Q & A

6. Introductions Your airport ? Towered vs. non-towered Part 139
Light G/A
G/A & BizAv
135 & 121
Other?
Towered vs. non-towered
Part 139

7. NTSB Mission & Jurisdiction
Improve transportation safety
5 modes – Aviation, Highway, Marine, Pipeline, & Rail
Investigate every civil aviation accident in U.S.
Report on every aviation accident

8. NTSB Numbers Annual GA accidents? Regional ASIs? Therefore:
Approx 1,500
Regional ASIs?
Approx 50
Therefore:
Approx investigations/ASI/year

9. Leveraging NTSB Numbers
~ 425 total employees
~ 150 dedicated Aviation
Assistance via Party System
“Relevant Expertise”
FAA
Manufacturers/OEMs, Operators, NOAA, Airport Mgmnt/Ops, etc

10. NTSB Aviation Jurisdiction
No authority (FARs or otherwise)
Determine:
Facts, conditions, & circumstances
Probable cause
Recommendations (Formal)
Special safety studies

11. FAA Duties Regulator Aids NTSB Focus: 9 areas of responsibility
Primarily by on-scene presence/activity
Focus: 9 areas of responsibility
A/C Cert, ATC, airports, etc ( C)
No probable cause
Corrective actions (Regs, ADs, etc)

12. Investigation Goals NOT to assign blame
Identify deficiencies & vulnerabilities
Identify safety fixes
Multiple approaches
Implement safety fixes
Indirect only
Some assistance/guidance

13. Typical Event Notification Process FAA Regional Operations Center
Witness
Operator
ATCT
Local Law Enf
ATC, FSS, FSDO, Arpt
FAA Regional Operations Center
Or Occnly
NTSB ROC
NTSB DO or IIC
FAA Inspector 13 13

14. Event Notification (Primary) INCIDENTS/ACCIDENTS ONLY
FAA Western Regional Operations Center (W-ROC)
24 / 7 / 365
(206)
INCIDENTS/ACCIDENTS ONLY
#s NOT for public release 14 14

15. Event Notification (Secondary)
NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC)
24 / 7 / 365 15 15

16. Who’s On The Phone? W-ROC (comms coordination only) NTSB FAA
Duty Officer (DO), or
Investigator-in-Charge (IIC)
FAA
Inspector, or
Manager

17. YOU? Who Arrives When? ‘Good Samaritan’ first responders RFF
Seconds to Minutes
RFF
Minutes (hopefully)
LEO (maybe)
FAA (almost always, but could be days)
NTSB (maybe in force, maybe never)
YOU?

18. Investigation Types Partial go-team Major Field Major Field Limited
Non-Major Aviation
“Field Major”
Partial go-team
Typical “Field” or “Regional”
“Limited”
Single regional IIC with support from parties
NTSB specialist support as needed
Data Collection
Limited
0 fatal
1 FAA
0 NTSB on scene
Field
~1-5 fatal
1 NTSB ASI
A few other participants
Field Major
~6+ fatal
High Vis
1-2 NTSB ASI
Several other participants
Major
Numerous fatals & injured
NTSB DC Go-Team
Board Member
participants

19. Command/Control First ~15 minutes: On your own
Then: Initial telephone guidance
Then/Also: RFF/LEO/ME or Coroner
Typically w NTSB coordination
Finally: FAA and /or NTSB assume site control

20. So Now What?

21. Then: Priorities Preserve Life Preserve Property Preserve Evidence
Enable Investigation
Return to Ops Normal

22. Preserve Life Fire suppression/prevention Rescue First Aid How?
Agencies, contacts, & procedures

23. Emergency Response Plan
Rqd for FAR 139 certified airports
AC 150/ A
Specifics & example
Share & compare
Practice

24. Preserve Life

25. Preserve Life Other operating A/C (to & from) Notify ATC facilities
Operational changes
Close ramp / twy / rwy / airport?
Notify ATC facilities
NOTAMs (?)

26. Preserve Life Other hazards? First responder surface traffic
Mechanical (pressure vessels, instability, edges, etc)
Electrical/power sources
Hazmat, chemicals, fuel, etc
Ballistic rockets

27. Hazards

28. Hazards

29. Preserve Property Other operating A/C (to & from)
Operational changes
Close ramp / twy / rwy / airport?
Notify ATC facilities
NOTAMs (?)

30. Preserve Evidence Owner’s/Operator’s responsibility
Availability & ability vary
Frequently falls on Ops
Especially for minor events
Don’t disturb wreckage w/o approval
Except as needed until life & property preservation assured

31. Preserve Evidence Re-location/recovery timing & agencies will vary
NTSB should always provide guidance
Ask if unsure or not forthcoming
You are helping us
Re-location/recovery timing & agencies will vary
Function of nature & location of event

32. Preserve Evidence Photographs greatly facilitate:
Determination of next step(s)
Preservation of initial conditions
Digital; and/or text
Overall views, and
Damage-specific

33. Evidence Surveillance footage Ground scars, skid marks
Camera locations/owners
Ground scars, skid marks
Diagrams are greatly appreciated!

34. Evidence - Diagrams Published airport diagrams Google Earth
NACO, Jepp
Google Earth
Zoning, planning, construction, etc
Hand-made

35. Evidence - Diagrams X

36. Evidence - Diagrams

37. Evidence

38. Evidence

39. Evidence Weather observations Radio communications
AWOS, ASOS
Radio communications
CTAF
Fuel slips, other receipts, etc
Fuel sample (?)

40. Evidence Assistance Hangar/Tiedown docs (Contacts)
NOK & insurance company
Downstream
Hangar access
Witnesses, acquaintances
Response info (maybe)

41. Possible Other Assistance
Mechanics & equipment
References, contacts
‘Knowledgeable eyes’ & tech assistance
Storage or work areas
Short or long term
Access/gate codes

42. Possible Other Assistance

43. Possible Other Assistance

44. The Media OK to talk about airport, ops, response etc - or not!
Refer accident & investigation Qs to NTSB
DO or IIC
ROC (202)
Public Affairs (202)

45. Investigation Steps Day 1 5-10 Days 6 Months 1 Year 1-2 Years On-scene
Parties & Groups
Progress Meetings
Family Briefings
Media Briefings
Press Releases
Preliminary Report
INITIAL Factual information
Investigative Hearing
Fact-finding
Depositions
Witnesses
Docket
Board Meeting
Findings
Conclusions
Probable Cause
Safety Recommendations
Final Report
Day 1
5-10 Days
6 Months
1 Year
1-2 Years

46. Big Picture Timeline Initial activity peak
~1 - 2 days
Then likely wont hear from us after a day or two
Unless extenuating circumstances or major accident

47. Big Picture Timeline Preliminary report
~ days
Then: ‘Behind the scenes’ fact gathering & analysis
Final report
~1 - 2 years

48. Summary You are a key link (esp at first) Initially ‘organized chaos’
Notification
Control
Contacts
Evidence
Initially ‘organized chaos’
But settles down very quickly

49. Summary A LOT of help is a phone call away (206) 231-2099 FAA W-ROC
(202) NTSB ROC

50. Summary Concerted effort to return airport to ‘Ops Normal’
We try to remove wreckage quickly
But sometimes delays necessary
ANY questions, concerns, or comments: PLEASE call or

51. www.ntsb.gov Summary Long period b/t accident & report
Special requests? – contact IIC
All public info at

52. QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?
Thank You