Aircraft Accidents and Incidents.pdf

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.09 AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS Revised: February 7, 2018 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this directive is to establish a procedure for the Boca Raton Police Services Department for handling aircraft accidents and incidents inv...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.09 AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS Revised: February 7, 2018 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this directive is to establish a procedure for the Boca Raton Police Services Department for handling aircraft accidents and incidents involving aircraft. II. DEFINITIONS: Aircraft Accident: An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft received substantial damage or failure that adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft. Aircraft Incident: An occurrence other than an accident associated with the operation of an aircraft which affects, or could affect the safety of operations. Unmanned Aircraft: A device used or intended to be used for flight in the air that has no onboard pilot. The device can be any type of airplane, helicopter, airship, glider (powered or unpowered), powered-lift aircraft, or tethered aircraft without an onboard pilot. III. PROCEDURE: A. COMMUNICATIONS SECTION PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. CALLTAKING: a. Upon receipt of a call advising that an aircraft was involved in an accident or incident, Communications Section personnel will obtain the following information: i. Location of the event: a) If the location is not at the airport, the public safety call taker/dispatcher (PSCT/PSD) will obtain as much detailed information as possible (e.g., southeast corner of the vacant field at Military and Palmetto Park Road) to pinpoint the location. Effective: March 1, 1989 Revised: February 7, 2018 Aircraft Accidents and Incidents SOP No. 46.09 Page 1 of 5 b) If the location is at the airport, the PSCT/PSD will obtain as much detailed information as possible about the exact site (e.g., south end of the runway). ii. Injuries (if caller can advise) iii. Type of event (e.g., wheels-up landing, actual accident, defined above, etc.) iv. The complainant’s information, including telephone number and address b. PSCT/PSDs will request that the caller remain at the scene or a safe location nearby to point out the area, if it is located at a site other than the airport. 2. DISPATCHING AND NOTIFICATION: a. PSDs will complete the following: i. Dispatch a primary law enforcement officer (LEO), a back-up, and a supervisor ii. Direct LEOs to the complainant’s specific location iii. Update responding units with further information as it becomes available iv. Upon request, contact the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to advise them of the incident v. B. Relay requests to the NTSB to move aircraft, when appropriate LEO RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. RESPONSE: a. The LEOs responding to aircraft accidents or incidents shall take the following steps: i. Assess the need for Fire Rescue Services to respond to treat injuries. ii. Secure/protect the scene and any scene where parts of the plane or its occupants are found. iii. Request Communications Section personnel notify the following agencies: Effective: March 1, 1989 Revised: February 7, 2018 Aircraft Accidents and Incidents SOP No. 46.09 Page 2 of 5 a) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) b) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) c) The Medical Examiner's Office, if there is a death b. The LEO assigned to the aircraft accident or incident should treat this type of call as he/she would any other AOD. c. The LEO will brief NTSB personnel, turn the scene over to them, and advise them that members of the Department will assist as needed. d. The LEO will request a crime scene technician to respond for photographs. e. Florida State Statute 860.13 allows any LEO to act on intoxicated, careless, or reckless pilots of aircraft. 2. REPORTING: a. LEOs shall obtain and include the following information in their report: i. Pilot's name, address, and telephone number ii. Pilot certificate number, which is usually the social security number iii. Number of persons on board and their names, addresses and telephone numbers iv. Point of departure v. Intended destination vi. Type, make, model, model number, and tail number of the aircraft (e.g., single engine Piper Warrior, PA-28-161, Tail #N123TH) vii. A detailed accounting of the incident b. LEOs shall call NTSB as soon as possible and advise them of the above information. 3. CLEARING THE RUNWAY AFTER AN AIRCRAFT INCIDENT: a. If there are no or minor injuries and the incident occurred at the airport, the following steps should be taken to clear the runway quickly: i. Request PSDs contact the airport tower for specific procedures prior to the LEO’s arrival. Effective: March 1, 1989 Revised: February 7, 2018 Aircraft Accidents and Incidents SOP No. 46.09 Page 3 of 5 ii. Verify that no structural damage exists. iii. Investigate the following: a) Whether the pilot is or is not impaired b) Whether the pilot’s certificate is valid or not valid per Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). c) Whether other unusual/suspicious circumstances exist. iv. Request PSDs notify the NTSB for permission to move the aircraft. a) If granted, allow the aircraft to be moved. b) If not granted, preserve the scene until the NTSB's arrival and grant any crime scene processing as needed. C. RESPONSE TO ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS AT BOCA RATON AIRPORT: 1. LEOs shall stage by Gate 9 of the Boca Raton Airport. 2. Entry into the airport shall only be made through Gate 9, unless otherwise directed by Fire Rescue Services Personnel or airport staff. 3. Entering the runway or taxiways in a vehicle or on foot requires direct clearance from either Air Traffic Control or a Fire Rescue Services battalion chief. 4. PSDs shall remain in contact with Air Traffic Control personnel and notify LEOs if it is necessary to go past Gate 9. 5. LEOs shall be aware of the presence of Engineered Materials Arrestor Systems (EMAS) installed on both ends of the runway that are designed to slow aircraft down in the event of a runway overshoot. a. The EMAS are difficult to see at night. b. LEOs shall not drive on the EMAS as instantaneous damage to the surface will occur. D. AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS AT SEA: 1. Marine Unit LEOs will attempt to locate any sightings or reports of an aircraft accident or incident at sea. 2. The US Coast Guard shall be notified and will coordinate the mission. Effective: March 1, 1989 Revised: February 7, 2018 Aircraft Accidents and Incidents SOP No. 46.09 Page 4 of 5 3. Upon arrival at a scene, Marine Unit LEOs will attempt to determine the number of victims. 4. The following agencies should be contacted if there are an unmanageable number of casualties at a scene: E. a. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission b. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office c. Broward County Sheriff’s Office 5. The Fire Rescue Services should be dispatched to an appropriate staging area(s). 6. The FAA and the NTSB must be notified prior to recovery operations. INCIDENTS INVOLVING UNMANNED AIRCRAFT: 1. LEOs assigned to events involving unmanned aircraft accidents or incidents should treat this type of call as he/she would any other AOD. 2. The investigating LEO shall attempt to collect the following information: a. Contact information and names of any witnesses b. Identification of operator(s) of the unmanned aircraft c. A description of the location or photographs of the scene d. Identification of any sensitive locations or events that the unmanned aircraft may have flown near 3. The LEO shall request a crime scene technician to photograph the scene and collect any evidence. 4. The LEO shall report the incident to the FAA and provide any information recorded within their report. Approved: Daniel C. Alexander Chief of Police Effective: March 1, 1989 Revised: February 7, 2018 Date: Aircraft Accidents and Incidents SOP No. 46.09 Page 5 of 5