Office of Aviation Safety Structure, Authority and Definitions

Office of Aviation Safety

Structure, Authority and Definitions

Office of Aviation Safety

Structure, Authority and Definitions

The Office of Aviation SafetyThe Office of Aviation Safety

Responsible for the Safety Board’s aviation accident investigationsResponsible for the Safety Board’s aviation accident investigations

DirectorOffice of Aviation Safety

DirectorOffice of Aviation Safety

Deputy DirectorRegional Technical/

Investigative Operations

Deputy DirectorRegional Technical/

Investigative Operations

Deputy DirectorTechnical/Investigative

Operations

Deputy DirectorTechnical/Investigative

Operations

Deputy DirectorInternational Aviation

Safety Affairs

Deputy DirectorInternational Aviation

Safety Affairs

Regional Operationsand General AviationRegional Operationsand General Aviation

MajorInvestigations

MajorInvestigations

OperationalFactors

OperationalFactors

AviationEngineering

AviationEngineering

HumanPerformance

HumanPerformance

SurvivalFactorsSurvivalFactors

Writing& EditingWriting

& Editing

NortheastRegional

Office

NortheastRegional

Office

NorthwestRegional

Office

NorthwestRegional

Office

North CentralRegional

Office

North CentralRegional

Office

SoutheastRegional

Office

SoutheastRegional

Office

South CentralRegional

Office

South CentralRegional

Office

SouthwestRegional

Office

SouthwestRegional

Office

NortheastField OfficeNortheast

Field OfficeNorthwestField OfficeNorthwestField Office

SoutheastField OfficeSoutheast

Field OfficeSouth CentralField Office

South CentralField Office

The Office of Aviation Safety is composed of about 140 men and women. About half of the positions are located in the headquarters office and the other half divided among the regional and field offices.

The Office of Aviation Safety is composed of about 140 men and women. About half of the positions are located in the headquarters office and the other half divided among the regional and field offices.

The Office of Aviation SafetyThe Office of Aviation Safety

Regional Office

Field Office

Headquarters

Regional Office

Field Office

Headquarters

Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington

Gardena, CaliforniaGardena, California

Atlanta,GeorgiaAtlanta,Georgia

Arlington, TexasArlington, Texas

West Chicago, IllinoisWest Chicago, Illinois

Parsippany, New JerseyParsippany, New Jersey

Washington, DCWashington, DC

Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida

Anchorage, AlaskaAnchorage, Alaska

Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado

Statutory AuthorityStatutory Authority

The National Transportation Safety Board shall investigate each accident involving a U.S. aircraft other than an aircraft operated by the Armed Forces or by an intelligence agency of the United States

The National Transportation Safety Board shall investigate each accident involving a U.S. aircraft other than an aircraft operated by the Armed Forces or by an intelligence agency of the United States

Statutory AuthorityStatutory Authority

This includes

U.S. designed/manufactured aircraft and engines in accordance with Annex 13 to the International Convention on Civil Aviation

Foreign aircraft in U.S. territories and possessions

This includes

U.S. designed/manufactured aircraft and engines in accordance with Annex 13 to the International Convention on Civil Aviation

Foreign aircraft in U.S. territories and possessions

Application of AuthorityApplication of Authority

The statutory authority assures that the Safety Board can

Access, secure, and retrieve wreckage

Obtain information through records and interviews

The statutory authority assures that the Safety Board can

Access, secure, and retrieve wreckage

Obtain information through records and interviews

Rights of IntervieweesRights of Interviewees

Right to have representation

Right to protection from self-incrimination

Right of exclusion

Right to have representation

Right to protection from self-incrimination

Right of exclusion

LimitationsLimitations

The Safety Board cannot

Grant immunity from prosecution

Assure confidentiality

The Safety Board cannot

Grant immunity from prosecution

Assure confidentiality

Interviewee concerns for confidentiality are considered in light of importance of free flow of information

Interviewee concerns for confidentiality are considered in light of importance of free flow of information

AutopsiesAutopsies

The NTSB may order an autopsy

Family religious beliefs considered in decision

Local laws may override family preference not to autopsy

The NTSB may order an autopsy

Family religious beliefs considered in decision

Local laws may override family preference not to autopsy

Toxicology AuthorityToxicology Authority

The NTSB makes requests for toxicological testing to:

– FAA personnel (air traffic controllers)

– Individuals

– Companies

The NTSB makes requests for toxicological testing to:

– FAA personnel (air traffic controllers)

– Individuals

– Companies

The NTSB has no authority to order toxicological tests on living persons

The NTSB has no authority to order toxicological tests on living persons

Toxicology AuthorityToxicology Authority

FAA regulations require pilots of Part 121 carriers to submit to toxicological testing within 2 hours of an accident

Local officials may have authority to request toxicological tests

FAA regulations require pilots of Part 121 carriers to submit to toxicological testing within 2 hours of an accident

Local officials may have authority to request toxicological tests

The scope of Safety Board investigations is defined in 49 CFR 830.2

The scope of Safety Board investigations is defined in 49 CFR 830.2

DefinitionsDefinitions

Aircraft Accident:

An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft that takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which ...

Aircraft Accident:

An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft that takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, and in which ...


Any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which

The aircraft receives substantial damage

Any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which

The aircraft receives substantial damage


Fatal injury:

Any injury that results in death within 30 days of the accident

Fatal injury:

Any injury that results in death within 30 days of the accident


A serious injury is any injury that:

Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within 7 daysof the date that the injury was received

Results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose)

A serious injury is any injury that:

Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within 7 daysof the date that the injury was received

Results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose)


Causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage

Involves any internal organ

Involves 2nd or 3rd degree burns or any burns affecting more than 5% of the body surface

Causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage

Involves any internal organ

Involves 2nd or 3rd degree burns or any burns affecting more than 5% of the body surface


Substantial damage is damageor failure that:

Adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and which

Would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component

Substantial damage is damageor failure that:

Adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and which

Would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component


Incident :An occurrence other than an accident associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operations

Incident :An occurrence other than an accident associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operations


Notification and ReportingNotification and Reporting

The operator of an aircraft shall immediately and by the most expeditious means available notify the nearest NTSB Field Office when an aircraft accident or any of the following incidents occur:

Flight control system malfunction

Inability of any crew member to perform normal flight duties as a result of injury or illness

The operator of an aircraft shall immediately and by the most expeditious means available notify the nearest NTSB Field Office when an aircraft accident or any of the following incidents occur:

Flight control system malfunction

Inability of any crew member to perform normal flight duties as a result of injury or illness


Failure of structural components of a turbine engine excluding compressor and turbine blades and vanes

In-flight fire

Aircraft collision in flight

Damage to property, other than the aircraft, estimated to exceed $25,000 for repair (including labor and materials) or fair market value in the event of a total loss, whichever is less

Failure of structural components of a turbine engine excluding compressor and turbine blades and vanes

In-flight fire

Aircraft collision in flight

Damage to property, other than the aircraft, estimated to exceed $25,000 for repair (including labor and materials) or fair market value in the event of a total loss, whichever is less


For large multi-engine aircraft (more than 12,500 pound maximum certificated takeoff weight): In-flight failure of electrical systems

that requires the sustained use of any emergency bus powered by a back-up source such as a battery, auxiliary power unit, or air-driven generator to retain flight control or essential instruments

In-flight failure of hydraulic systems that results in sustained reliance on the sole remaining hydraulic or mechanical system for movement of flight control surfaces

For large multi-engine aircraft (more than 12,500 pound maximum certificated takeoff weight): In-flight failure of electrical systems

that requires the sustained use of any emergency bus powered by a back-up source such as a battery, auxiliary power unit, or air-driven generator to retain flight control or essential instruments

In-flight failure of hydraulic systems that results in sustained reliance on the sole remaining hydraulic or mechanical system for movement of flight control surfaces


Sustained loss of power or thrust produced by two or more engines

An evacuation of an aircraft in which an emergency egress system is utilized

An aircraft is overdue and is believed to have been involved in an accident

Sustained loss of power or thrust produced by two or more engines

An evacuation of an aircraft in which an emergency egress system is utilized

An aircraft is overdue and is believed to have been involved in an accident

Documents

Office of Aviation Safety Structure, Authority and Definitions