After the Accident: Why Bother and the Importance of Cooperation
This is the second in a series of posts where I plan to share what I learned about working with investigators over the course of several major accidents. If you missed last week’s post, take a couple of minutes to get caught up and be sure to come back. Through this series I hope to better prepare you and your organization for what to expect in the event of a tragedy.
Why do we spend all the resources to investigate these accidents in the first place? The purpose is to enhance transportation safety and prevent the next failure from ever happening. These investigations take the priority over any other government agencies investigations, but the type of response will vary depending on a series of circumstances. This could include the type of operation that was taking place, how many injuries or fatalities, is there anything on the surface that appears suspicious or indicates possible criminal intent, or even if the type of accident is high profile in the public eye due to recurring events (think the recent engine failure over Denver or any future events related to the 737 MAX).
When an accident happens in your organization it can be a chaotic and stressful event that usually comes as a surprise.
After following the appropriate NTSB reporting requirements (linked below) what can you expect at the initial on-scene response? In all the investigations I have been part of the first on scene are usually from the public and local first responders such as police, fire or EMS. They fill their usual roles such as public safety, firefighting and rendering medical care to any victims. Local law enforcement will have their own specific policies, but security of the scene is high on the list and they will typically treat it as a crime scene with controlled access. The first federal officials to arrive are often from the nearby offices of the FAA but the NTSB still has ultimate authority even before they arrive. The reason for the fast FAA response is mostly due to staffing; the FAA has far more employees than the NTSB which is a small organization.
Next to arrive will typically be representatives from the operator followed by OEM investigators. From our experience, operators will be well served to have already contacted OEM investigators long before an accident. Having shared contact information and built a basic relationship will help to reduce the stress and unknowns on scene. We have gone as far as prioritizing notification of the OEM investigators early after confirming the event, so they hear it from us as it helps to build trust and collaboration.
The key to a successful investigation is transparency from all parties and having a unified goal of finding the probable cause and contributing factors for the benefit of everyone.
Ground scar from N334AM at the accident scene in Seminole, OK (NTSB CEN13FA121)
Learn more in the docket linked below.
Once the NTSB arrives, they assume direct control of the scene and like I mentioned earlier, it is not unusual for the NTSB Investigator in Charge (IIC) to be one of the last to arrive. Because of this, we recommend if you are an operator that will be requesting party status that you contact the IIC on your way to the scene and introduce yourself. Explain to them that you intend to request part status and understand that they are in charge. We always reassured the IIC that we would not attempt to gain access to the scene until they arrived and even offered to assist them with finding accommodations or any type of logistical support around their arrival. This shows that you understand the hierarchy of the investigation and are willing to assist. It is likely that your team is more familiar with the area so be a good host and treat them as a guest.
Meeting everyone at a neutral area near but not at the crash site is a good way to handle initial introductions and formulate a plan under the direction of the IIC.
From even these initial steps, it should be obvious that the intent is to demonstrate a cooperative and transparent approach right from the start. The FAA is automatically a party to NTSB investigations but everyone else is granted party status at the discretion of the NTSB. Being a party member is a privilege and in a future post we will discuss what makes a good party member as well as some of the restrictions if granted party status.
As an operator, you do not want to lose party status and sit on the sidelines watching the investigation take place without your input.
Finally, just because there has been an aircraft accident does not mean that the NTSB will be traveling to investigate at the scene. Smaller incidents or accidents may be delegated to the FAA by the NTSB. If this happens, the same goal of accident prevention exists, and the intent is not for enforcement action. Support the FAA investigators with the same cooperative approach and the mutual respect will benefit everyone.
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More Reading:
NTSB Accident Reporting Requirements - Part 830 (eCFR)
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