Aircraft Accident Scenarios

• This module introduces aircraft accident and investigation concepts. Relevant terms and definitions that are used in the Standards and Recommended Practices for Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation are discussed, based on the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulation (PCAR) and the International Civil Aviation Regulation (ICAO).
• Applicability and purpose of investigation are also discussed, as applicable to the Republic of the Philippines.
• The estimated time to complete this module, including self-assessments, research, and other assignments, is 2.62 hours.

Applicability of Accident and Incident Reporting

• This Part contains the requirements of the Republic of the Philippines pertaining to:
  • Personal responsibility for initial notification and later reporting of aircraft incidents and accidents
  • Reporting certain other occurrences in the operation of aircraft
  • When events involve civil aircraft registered or operated by the Republic of the Philippines, wherever they occur
  • When events involve certain public aircraft, as specified in this part, wherever they occur
  • When they involve foreign civil aircraft where the events occur in the Republic of the Philippines.
• Preservation of aircraft wreckage, mail, cargo, and records involving all civil and certain public aircraft incidents and accidents within the Republic of the Philippines.
• Conformance to international standards for accident and incident reporting
• This Part is applicable to organizations that operate aircraft or provide services associated with the safe operation of aircraft.
• All government agencies are necessary to ensure the timely and correct investigation and reporting of accidents.
• This Part is applicable to all persons associated with the safe operations of aircraft.
• This Part is applicable to the general public where they have information pertinent to an accident or incident investigation.
• This Part is applicable to technical persons participating in the investigations.

Definitions and Application

• Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) means the publication issued by the Authority in accordance with ICAO Annex 15.
• Accident: An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft. For a manned aircraft, this takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until all such persons have disembarked. In the case of flight, this goes until such time it comes to rest at the end of the flight and the primary propulsion system is shut down, in which:
  • A person is fatally or seriously injured due to being in the aircraft
  • A person is injured by direct contact with any part of the aircraft or by direct exposure to jet blast
  • An exception to the jet blast clause applies if the injuries arise from natural causes, are self-inflicted, or inflicted by other persons
  • A person is a stowaway hiding outside the areas normally available to the passengers and crew;
  • The aircraft sustains damage or structural failure, adversely affecting the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft
  • Damage would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component
  • The exception to the above condition is an engine failure or damage limited to a single engine
• The aircraft is missing or completely inaccessible
• Accredited representative: a person designated by a Contracting State to participate in an investigation conducted by another State, based on their qualifications.
• If the State has an accident investigation authority, the accredited representative should normally come from there.
• Adviser/Advisor: a person appointed by a Contracting State to help its accredited representative in an investigation conducted by another State.
• Causes: the actions, omissions, events, or conditions that led to the accident or incident.
• Identifying causes does not imply fault, administrative, civil, or criminal liability.
• Chairman: the Chairman of the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board appointed under RA 9497 section 42.
• Contributing Factors: actions, omissions, events or conditions that, had they been avoided or absent, would have reduced how likely the accident or incident was to occur, or how severe the consequences were.
• Final Report: a report of an accident or incident that follows the ICAO Annex 13 format, adapted to the circumstances of the investigation.
• Flight recorder: any type of recorder installed in the aircraft for purposes of accident or incident investigation.
• Incident: an occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft that affects or could affect safety.
• Investigation: a process of gathering and analyzing information, drawing conclusions, determining causes and/or contributing factors, and making safety recommendations, for accident prevention.
• Investigator: means an Investigator of Accidents appointed under paragraph 13.100(b).
• Investigator-in-charge: someone designated by the Chairman under paragraph 13.100(d), responsible for organizing, conducting, and controlling an investigation.
• Operator: a person, organization, or enterprise engaged in aircraft operation
• Owner: the registered owner of an aircraft.
• Preliminary Report: communication used for the prompt dissemination of data obtained during the early stages of the investigation.
• Republic of the Philippines aircraft: means an aircraft is one that is registered in the Republic of the Philippines.
• Republic of the Philippines operator: means an operator runs a business that is located, or resides in the Repiblic of the Philippines
• Safety recommendation: A proposal from an accident investigation authority which is based on information gathered from investigation for preventing future accidents or incidents
• It does not have the purpose of creating blame or assigning liability for an accident or incident.
• Serious incident:An incident in which circumstances indicate that there was a high probability of an accident and is associated with the operation of an aircraft
• Serious injury: An injury sustained by a person in an accident which includes:
  • Hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within 7 days from the injury date
  • Results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fracture of fingers, toes or the nose)
  • Lacerations which cause severe haemorrhage, nerve, muscle or tendon damage
  • Injury to any internal organ
  • Second or third degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5% of the body surface
  • Verifiable exposure to infectious substances or injurious radiation
• State of occurrence: The State in whose territory an accident or incident occurs.
• State Safety Program (SSP): An integrated set of activity and regulations to improve safety.
• (per Memorandum Circular No. 18-15, series of 2015)
• Substantial damage: Damage or failure that that affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and which would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

• ACCID - Accident
• AFTN - Aeronautical Fixed Communication Network
• AIP - Aeronautical Information Publication
• AOC - Air Operator Certificate
• ICAO – International Civil Aviation Organization
• IIC - Investigator-in-Charge
• INCID – Incident
• IS – Implementing Standards
• Kg - Kilogram
• PIC - Pilot-in-Command
• UTC – Universal Coordinated Time

Purpose of Investigation

• The sole objective of the investigation of an accident or incident under this Part shall be to prevent further accidents and incidents.
• Investigations under PCAR Part 13 should not place blame or liability, and must also remain separate from administrative or judicial proceedings that may apportion blame or liability.
• The accident investigation authority shall have independence in the conduct of the investigation with unrestricted authority, consistent with ICAO Annex 13.
• Investigations should include gathering, recording and analyzing relevant information, issuing safety recommendations as appropriate, determining the causes/contributing factors and completing the Final Report.

Analyzing different aircraft incident scenarios to determine if they meet the criteria to be classified as accidents based on specific definitions. Covering events such as tire blowouts, engine failures, and stowaway injuries.