Module 1

• Accident investigation - a systematic process whereby all of the possible causes of an adverse event are evaluated and eliminated until the remaining causes are identified as applicable to that investigation
• Accidents – they are infrequent
• To retain currency and acquire the best methods for investigation, Investigators must take every opportunity to obtain training with:

  -          air carriers

  -          military

  -          aircraft manufacturers

  -          other accident investigators
• Air carriers and Aerodromes - conduct periodic emergency exercises, and these also provide an opportunity for the accident investigators to utilize these scenarios for training
• Three phases of accidents investigation:

  -          collection of data

  -          analysis of data

  -          presentation of findings
• Collection of Data – the initial phase of the investigation process should focus on defining and obtaining data relevant to the accident
• Types of data to be collected include:

  • accident particulars
  • meteorological
  • technical
  • human factors
• Collection Of Accident Particulars - Important reference data must be collected to facilitate collection of meteorological, aircraft performance and air traffic control data
• Primary sources of such data shall be obtained from:

  -          flight plans

  -          Air Traffic Services (ATS) radar data

  -          navigation and topographical charts
• Collection of Meteorological Particulars – the forecast and local weather conditions may have significant importance on both the flight conditions and the aircraft performance
• Collection of Technical Particulars – this data is provided from the investigation at the accident or incident site along with maintenance and manufacturing records, onboard data collection devices and laboratory analysis of aircraft components
• Collection of Human Factors - Human factors information is sometimes the most difficult in fatal accidents because there are few witnesses to interview to confirm what actions and conditions the flight crew were experiencing
• Data Analysis - is conducted in parallel with data collection. Often the analysis of data initiates additional questions that require further data collection, simulation and consultation
• Presentation of Findings - can be more useful and provide greater safety benefits than accident investigations and should be provided in the format identified in ICAO Annex 13
• Photography - an important element of the investigation process
• Photography – a skill every accident investigator needs a basic knowledge
• Some desirable attributes of an investigator’s equipment:

  -          compact

  -          light weight
• Disposable cameras - are made by nearly every major manufacturer of photographic film in the world
• Equipment an Investigator should possess:

  -          Camera
• Point and shoot cameras - are more versatile than disposable cameras. The ones currently on the market are usually fully automatic
• Single lens reflex cameras - are so called, because a mirror between the camera’s lens and the film or light sensor directs the light coming through the lens to a focusing screen
• Video camcorders - are extremely useful to investigators. Modern ones are light and compact, and the video digital medium can be edited on a computer using simple to use software
• Accessories that are useful to accident investigators:

  -          Lenses

  -          Flash

  -          Filters

  -          Camera Supports

  -          Cable/Remote Release

  -          Notebook
• The general rule in accident site photography is:

  -          to start with the most perishable evidence and work to the least perishable evidence
• Bracketing – taking one photo at the normal exposure, then taking photo at the same subject at half then doubling the cameras indicated exposure
• To make a good photograph, a photographer must consider five variables:

  -          composition

  -          subject lighting

  -          lens focus

  -          lens opening

  -          shutter speed
• Composition - the arrangement of the subject in the photograph
• The best light to photograph wreckage is:

  -          soft

  -          diffuse

  -          even
• Shutter speed - controls the amount of time the light falls on the film or sensor