Accident investigations historical concepts

Accident investigations historical concepts

Historical concepts of accident  investigations that led to modern techniques, current regulation, and  scope of aircraft accident investigation

I. Address or answer the following, along with any additional questions your instructor may post, in this discussion forum.

• Give a brief explanation of who the “Key Players” are.
• Explain the concept that the NTSB is “Independent.”
• Define the scope and purpose of the “Party System.”

II. Within your responses, apply historical concepts of accident  investigations that led to modern techniques, current regulation, and  scope of aircraft accident investigation.

III. Vague, short answers absent of detailed qualifications will not be accepted. Support your opinions with references.

Aircraft accident investigations are studies in concurrent and multidisciplinary investigations where a successful outcome is based on cooperation, coordination, collaboration, and comprehensiveness. The medical findings at autopsy and its ancillary laboratory studies provide a critical perspective in the overall accident investigation as to probable cause, level of survivability based on crash forces, occupiable space, and the postcrash environment, and the role of any preexisting condition as a risk factor. A comprehensive medicolegal investigation will provide the data necessary to link those concurrent investigations. Communications remain the cornerstone of successful mishap investigations and their contribution to efforts to improve aviation safety.

Accident investigation has played a significant role in the development and adoption of Crew Resource Management (CRM) in the aviation industry. This chapter discusses a multi-faceted approach to improve the effect of CRM on crew performance. It identifies several aspects of CRM that, having appeared with some frequency in recent accidents, warrant further emphasis in the broader conceptualization of CRM. These aspects include the role of individual responsibility in taking leadership, in adhering to standard operating procedures, in active monitoring, and in making responsible decisions in managing fatigue. This chapter addresses two main issues from the perspective of the accident investigator, with the goal of increasing the effectiveness of CRM in reducing accidents—individual accountability within the context of team performance, and organizational accountability and indoctrination. With the ultimate goal of safety in mind, the front-line employee, their immediate team, the operator, the regulating agency, and the accident investigator can work together to effect meaningful change in reducing accidents and incidents resulting from the failure of the crew to carry out the behaviors and principles embodied by CRM.