PartyProcess

PartyProcess

The Party ProcessThe Party Process

The Safety Board investigates more than 2,000 aviation accidents and incidents a year and about 500 rail, highway,

marine and pipeline accidents. With only about 400 employees, the NTSB accomplishes this task by leveraging its

resources and designating parties to its investigations.

The Safety Board investigates more than 2,000 aviation accidents and incidents a year and about 500 rail, highway,

marine and pipeline accidents. With only about 400 employees, the NTSB accomplishes this task by leveraging its

resources and designating parties to its investigations.

NTSB regulations state, in part, that “parties to the field phase shall be limited to

Those persons, government agencies, companies and associations whose employees, functions, activities, or products were involved in the accident or incident, and

NTSB regulations state, in part, that “parties to the field phase shall be limited to

Those persons, government agencies, companies and associations whose employees, functions, activities, or products were involved in the accident or incident, and

The Party ProcessThe Party Process

who can provide suitable qualified technical personnel to actively assist in the field investigation”

who can provide suitable qualified technical personnel to actively assist in the field investigation”

The Party ProcessThe Party Process

The IIC designates parties on scene

The participation of accredited representatives from foreign countries is established under the provisions of Annex 13 of the International Convention on Civil Aviation which is administered by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

The IIC designates parties on scene

The participation of accredited representatives from foreign countries is established under the provisions of Annex 13 of the International Convention on Civil Aviation which is administered by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

The NTSB has complete discretion over which organizations it designates as parties, except FAA, which is a party by law

The NTSB has complete discretion over which organizations it designates as parties, except FAA, which is a party by law

Typically, parties include:

FAA (by law)

Air carrier

Airframe manufacturer

Engine manufacturer

Typically, parties include:

FAA (by law)

Air carrier

Airframe manufacturer

Engine manufacturer

Major component manufacturer

Pilot, ATC, maintenance and flight attendant union representatives

Local airport and law enforcement

Major component manufacturer

Pilot, ATC, maintenance and flight attendant union representatives

Local airport and law enforcement

Absolutely no news media, company media relations, attorneys, or insurance personnel are

permitted to participate in any phase of the investigation, including meetings

Absolutely no news media, company media relations, attorneys, or insurance personnel are

permitted to participate in any phase of the investigation, including meetings

Who to Send to an Accident:Who to Send to an Accident:

Parties to an investigation should send the following:

Party coordinator/spokesperson

Employees with expertise in the technical areas, (structures, systems, operations, etc.)

Parties to an investigation should send the following:

Party coordinator/spokesperson

Employees with expertise in the technical areas, (structures, systems, operations, etc.)

Party Coordinator:Party Coordinator:

Should not be assigned to a group

Supervises the group members from his/her organization

Works directly to support the IIC

Should not be assigned to a group

Supervises the group members from his/her organization

Works directly to support the IIC

Party Coordinator:Party Coordinator:

Must be able to speak for and make decisions for the organization they represent

Remains near or in contact with the IIC/command center at all times

Is responsible for ensuring that NTSB rules are followed

Must be able to speak for and make decisions for the organization they represent

Remains near or in contact with the IIC/command center at all times

Is responsible for ensuring that NTSB rules are followed

Party Coordinator:Party Coordinator:

The party coordinator is required to sign a form titled “statement of party representatives to NTSB investigations” which specifies that all members of their organization have read the applicable rules and regulations governing the investigation and agree to abide by them.

The party coordinator is required to sign a form titled “statement of party representatives to NTSB investigations” which specifies that all members of their organization have read the applicable rules and regulations governing the investigation and agree to abide by them.

Party Specialists:Party Specialists:

Must be a full-time employee of the party (no consultants)

Must possess needed expertise in group subject

Must be a full-time employee of the party (no consultants)

Must possess needed expertise in group subject

Party Specialists:Party Specialists:

Work under direct supervision of the group chairman

Must abide by the NTSB’s rules and procedures

Work under direct supervision of the group chairman

Must abide by the NTSB’s rules and procedures

No independent investigations by parties or group members are permitted

No information will be withheld from the NTSB

No independent investigations by parties or group members are permitted

No information will be withheld from the NTSB

What to Prepare ForWhat to Prepare For

Upon a launch to a major investigation, group team members should be prepared for:

Extended work hours lasting 7 to 21 days or more

Travel to off-site locations for follow-up group activities (such as tear down activities)

Upon a launch to a major investigation, group team members should be prepared for:

Extended work hours lasting 7 to 21 days or more

Travel to off-site locations for follow-up group activities (such as tear down activities)

What to Prepare ForWhat to Prepare For

Potential for extreme environmental, physical and psychological stress while on-site

“Team concept” cooperation and spirit

Once a specialist is assigned to a group, substitutions are highly discouraged

Potential for extreme environmental, physical and psychological stress while on-site

“Team concept” cooperation and spirit

Once a specialist is assigned to a group, substitutions are highly discouraged

Protective MeasuresProtective Measures

Any party specialist who might be called upon to participate in wreckage retrieval should have current tetanus and hepatitis-B inoculations

Federal regulations require investigators to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while on scene to protect against bloodborne pathogens like hepatitis-B and HIV

Party members must supply their own PPE

Any party specialist who might be called upon to participate in wreckage retrieval should have current tetanus and hepatitis-B inoculations

Federal regulations require investigators to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while on scene to protect against bloodborne pathogens like hepatitis-B and HIV

Party members must supply their own PPE

Lines of Authority for Conflict ResolutionLines of Authority for Conflict Resolution

Director, Office of Aviation Safety

IIC – accredited representative

Party coordinator

Group chairman

Group member

If problems arise, they should be brought to the attention of the group chairman and IIC immediately for resolution in consultation with the respective party coordinators or accredited representatives

Director, Office of Aviation Safety

IIC – accredited representative

Party coordinator

Group chairman

Group member

If problems arise, they should be brought to the attention of the group chairman and IIC immediately for resolution in consultation with the respective party coordinators or accredited representatives

Group RepresentationGroup Representation

Group members are responsible for pointing out discrepancies in factual reports

Issues regarding the scope of the investigation, findings or the content of factual notes should be resolved with the group chairman

If issues cannot be resolved at this level, the party coordinator and group chairman should apprise the IIC for resolution

Group members are responsible for pointing out discrepancies in factual reports

Issues regarding the scope of the investigation, findings or the content of factual notes should be resolved with the group chairman

If issues cannot be resolved at this level, the party coordinator and group chairman should apprise the IIC for resolution

Group RepresentationGroup Representation

If a satisfactory resolution is not forthcoming, the coordinator should request that the IIC raise the issue to the chief, major investigations division for resolution

A full set of all final group chairman’s factual reports with attachments are provided to party coordinators upon completion

If a satisfactory resolution is not forthcoming, the coordinator should request that the IIC raise the issue to the chief, major investigations division for resolution

A full set of all final group chairman’s factual reports with attachments are provided to party coordinators upon completion

Discussions About the InvestigationDiscussions About the Investigation

Parties and groupmembers are prohibited from speaking about investigative findings with the news media or public

Group members should advise their coordinatorsof pertinent information,but should refrain from speculating or analyzing unsubstantiated information

Parties and groupmembers are prohibited from speaking about investigative findings with the news media or public

Group members should advise their coordinatorsof pertinent information,but should refrain from speculating or analyzing unsubstantiated information

Completion of On-Scene PhaseCompletion of On-Scene Phase

Before being released from the scene, all group members must:

Assist in the completion of field notes that accurately record the evidence gathered at the accident site

Sign the field notes or indicate discrepancies

No group member is released from the scene until their group’s on-scene investigation is complete and the factual field notes have been reviewed, initialed by each group member and approved by the IIC

Before being released from the scene, all group members must:

Assist in the completion of field notes that accurately record the evidence gathered at the accident site

Sign the field notes or indicate discrepancies

No group member is released from the scene until their group’s on-scene investigation is complete and the factual field notes have been reviewed, initialed by each group member and approved by the IIC

Post On-Scene PhasePost On-Scene Phase

Parties in good standing are invited to participate is several ways after the on-scene phase. They will be asked to participate in:

Scheduled hearings held in furtherance of the investigation

Followup tests, interviews or studies initiated by their group

The technical review of the completeness of the factual portion of theinvestigation

Parties in good standing are invited to participate is several ways after the on-scene phase. They will be asked to participate in:

Scheduled hearings held in furtherance of the investigation

Followup tests, interviews or studies initiated by their group

The technical review of the completeness of the factual portion of theinvestigation

Final ReportFinal Report

Parties do not participatein the analysis of the draft final report, however

Parties can contribute to the analytical process by submitting their own findings, recommendations and probable cause based on the factual reports

Parties do not participatein the analysis of the draft final report, however

Parties can contribute to the analytical process by submitting their own findings, recommendations and probable cause based on the factual reports

Final ReportFinal Report

These ‘party submissions’ become part of the public docket and are considered by staff and the Board Members before adoption of the final report by the Board

These ‘party submissions’ become part of the public docket and are considered by staff and the Board Members before adoption of the final report by the Board

Other Party ResponsibilitiesOther Party Responsibilities

The party system is designed to provide factual information as it is discovered. Parties are encouraged to take immediate corrective action to prevent a similar accident if factual information uncovered during the investigation warrants such action. However, the party coordinator is expected to apprise the IIC of any such actions before they are taken

The party system is designed to provide factual information as it is discovered. Parties are encouraged to take immediate corrective action to prevent a similar accident if factual information uncovered during the investigation warrants such action. However, the party coordinator is expected to apprise the IIC of any such actions before they are taken