Investigating airport accidents

2009 BECA New Zealand Airports ConferencePalmerston North 14 October 2009

Peter R. WilliamsTransport Accident Investigation Commission

IntroductionTAIC would like:•closer contact generally with airports•for you to know what we expect to do•to ask what we should know about you

What TAIC is•Transport Accident Investigation Act •standing Commission of Inquiry•succeeded Office of Air Accident Investigations•added rail 1992, and marine in 1995•Independent Crown Entity•reports to the Minister of Transport

Why TAIC investigates“The principal purpose of the Commission shall be to determine the circumstances and causes of accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future, rather than to ascribe blame to any person.”

TAIC Act 1990, s.4

When TAIC investigates•circumstances have, or are likely to have,

significant implications for transport safety, or

•Commission may make safety rec’s which may increases transport safety, or

• the Minister of Transport directs.

• includes any combination of military and non-military persons and “transport related things” (TRT)

•not limited to notified occurrences.

TAIC’s powers, and protections•enter and inspect any TRT• inspect, make copies, take extracts, retain

any document or record•prohibit or restrict access (not only at site)•direct TRT be taken to a nominated place•seize, detain, remove, preserve, protect,

or test any place or thing

•extensive protection of evidence from disclosure “except for purpose of the investigation”

How prevalent in NZ?•AKL – EK, take-off over runway works•AKL – SQ, tail-scrape•WLG – C172, flipped by wind•WLG - V807, runway excursion•CHC – C141, landing gear malfunction•ZQN – ATR72, runway excursion•ZQN - BAe146, runway excursion

Accident response1. Rescue and fire-fighting2. Site investigation3. Recovery

Rescue and fire-fighting

RFS phase•Video/photo record•record necessary additional damage•RFS awareness of investigation needs

RFS phase (2)•“…no person shall access, interfere with, or remove, an aircraft or its contents that is involved in an accident…”

•except for:•saving life;

protecting from further damage

•deactivating recorders or ELT

•prevent obstruction to public or air navigation

RFS phase (3)But once TAIC investigating it may:

•“…prohibit or restrict access of persons or classes of persons to the site of any accident or incident or to any TRT involved …”

Site investigation

Site investigation (2)•control: Police, then TAIC•security: protect ourselves and evidence•survey: examine and record•victims: don’t rush to remove•debris: gather paper etc.

Site investigation (3)•resources of wider community,incl. Civil Defence•use of airport vehicle?•on-airport office space?•airport grid diagrams•media policy

Recovery

Recovery•hazardous phase•still under TAIC control•investigator to be present•minimise further damage•what’s underneath?

Help us help you•call us early•video/photo•collect wind-blown

•protect evidence•don’t move unless essential •keep us informed

Info requested by TAIC•your emergency contact

roles/names/numbers/emails•copy of grid map• locations of your incident control room and

assembly point(s)•advance advice of exercises

What do you want from TAIC

?Peter Williams 04 494 5487

p.williams@taic.org.nzPeter Northcote 029 977 9696

p.northcote@taic.org.nz

Summary•closer contact• increased understanding of TAIC’s

expected activities on site•better appreciate mutual needs

Investigating airport accidents

2009 BECA New Zealand Airports ConferencePalmerston North 14 October 2009

Peter R. WilliamsTransport Accident Investigation Commission