Aircraft Incident/Accident Researcher Quick Reference


The content of this quick reference text  is to be provided as an initial guidance for an aircraft accident/incident investigator or researcher to retrieve initial information about the event. 

Regarding the Airplane.

1- Serial Number.
2- Maximum Certified Take-Off Weight for the Operator.
3- Airplane Technical Logbook Information prior its dispatch. Check if all Mandatory Maintenance Bulletins were covered. Check for any previous reports in the Technical Logbook.
4- Fuel On Board, exact number of passengers and cargo to determine the Zero Fuel Weight and M.A.C. (Balance sheet for the flight) and then the Actual Take-Off weight.
5- Check if the airplane was under any M.E.L. (Minimum Equipment List) restriction.
6- Check if the airplane was delayed due to any maintenance occurrence.
7- Airplane Maintenance history.

Regarding the Logistics on the Airplane's Dispatch

1- Check if the flight was delayed by the Company's Dispatch department due to last minute passengers or cargo.
2- Check if the airplane was properly balanced (any weight discrepancy that might affect the weight and balance).
3- Check for any restricted article in the cargo hold.
4- Check for any Airport Security issue or incident that might jeopardize or compromise the airplane's safety or security.
5- Check for any boarding passenger incident or occurrence.

Regarding the Airport, ATC and Route

1- Taxi-out and Runway in use for take-off. Used SID (Standard Instrument Departure).
2- Check if the take-off delayed due to weather, traffic or any other reason.
3- Weather Conditions in the Terminal Control Area as well as in the planned route path, including latest METAR and TAF.
4- Doppler Radar Image of the area, if available, covering at least 50 Nm from the airport or up to the point of impact, whichever covers both.
5- Satellite Image at the time of the airplane's take-off (same as above).
6- Any significant NOTAMs (Notice to The Airmen) regarding the actual used SID and or planned route.
7- Overlay of the intended route and the actual flight path until the incident or accident. If possible in an Aeronautical Chart in order to emphasize any discrepancies that might have occurred as well as to determine if the airplane performed any deviations due to any weather phenomena.
8- Check if the flight vectored by the ATC.
9- Any TCAS (Traffic Collision and Advisory System) TA (Traffic Advisory) or RA (Resolution Advisory) related information.

Regarding the Crew.

1- Name and age of both Pilots and Crew members.
2- Captain's experience: Total Hours, Total Hours in Command of jets (any model), Total hours in Command on model.
3- First Officer experience: Total Hours, Total hours in Command of jets, Total hours in the model.
4- Total Duty Time for the last 30 days and 7 days as well as the last off duty days of both Pilots.
5- Last CRM update (Crew Resources Management) of all crew members.
6- Time of duty for all crew members by the time of the accident.
7- Any information relative to the crews relationship, if existent.
8- Last PC (proficiency check) dates for both pilots.
9- Any information regarding social and professional behaviour of the crew members.
10- Medical and Psychological information history from the crew members.

Regarding the Company

1- Company S.O.P. (Standard Operational Procedures) , normal and emergency procedures.
2- Last FCOM (Flight Crew Operations Manual) update in the pilot's possession, that including any Temporary Bulletins issued either by the manufacturer or the Company.
3- Company's Operations Manual.
4- Company’s information regarding its history, management style, relationship with authorities and employees, financial situation, insurance policies, etc.

Regarding the Incident or Accident

1- How many minutes after take-off (or before landing, whichever more relevant).
2- Any information regarding the airplane attitude when it hit the surface.
3- Any information regarding the airplane configuration when it hit the surface (such as speed, flap position, landing gear position).
4- Check for any reliable witness information.
5- Check for any possible stray traffic information that might lead to a collision or near collision.
6- Check for any ATC and Crew radio calls.
7- Weather Conditions that might or not have contributed to the incident or accident.
8- Any relevant information regarding the flight path that might have lead to the occurrence of the incident or accident.
9- FDR and CVR data.

© Antonio Carlos Arantes De Biasi



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