NTSB Safety Recommendations

Citation

(2008), "NTSB Safety Recommendations", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 80 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2008.12780cab.019

NTSB Safety Recommendations

Article Type: Safety topics and notes From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 80, Issue 3.

Safety Recommendations A-07-97 through -103

The NTSB makes the following recommendations to the FAA:

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  Provide clear guidance to operators of passenger and cargo aircraft operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 121, 135, and 91K on flight crew procedures for responding to evidence of a fire in the absence of a cockpit alert based on the guidance developed by the 2004 smoke, fire, and fumes industry initiative (A-07-97).

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  Ensure that the performance requirements for smoke and fire detection systems account for the effects of cargo and cargo containers on airflow around the detection sensors and on the containment of smoke from a fire inside a container and should establish standardised methods of demonstrating compliance with those requirements (A-07-98).

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  Require that fire suppression systems be installed in the cargo compartments of all cargo airplanes operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 (A-07-99).

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  Provide guidance to aircraft rescue and fire fighting personnel on the best training methods to obtain and maintain proficiency with the high- reach extendable turret with skin- penetrating nozzle (A-07-100).

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  Require airport inspectors to ensure that Part 139 airports with cargo operations include cargo aircraft in their aircraft rescue and fire fighting aircraft familiarisation training programs (A-07-101).

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  Require cargo operators to designate at least one floor level door as a required emergency exit and equip the door with an evacuation slide, when appropriate (A-07-102).

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  Require all emergency exits on cargo aircraft that are operable from the outside to have a 2in. contrasting coloured band outlining the exit (A-07-103).

Safety Recommendations A-07-104 through -109

The NTSB makes the following recommendations to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration:

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  Require aircraft operators to implement measures to reduce the risk of primary lithium batteries becoming involved in fires on cargo-only aircraft, such as transporting such batteries in fire resistant containers and/or in restricted quantities at any single location on the aircraft (A-07-104).

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  Until fire suppression systems are required on cargo-only aircraft, as asked for in Safety Recommendation A-07-99, require that cargo shipments of secondary lithium batteries, including those contained in or packed with equipment, be transported in crew- accessible locations where portable fire suppression systems can be used (A-07-105).

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  Require aircraft operators that transport hazardous materials to immediately provide consolidated and specific information about hazardous materials on board an aircraft, including proper shipping name, hazard class, quantity, number of packages, and location, to on-scene emergency responders upon notification of an accident or incident (A-07-106).

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  Require commercial cargo and passenger operators to report to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration all incidents involving primary and secondary lithium batteries, including those contained in or packed with equipment, that occur either on board or during loading or unloading operations and retain the failed items for evaluation purposes (A-07-107).

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  Analyse the causes of all thermal failures and fires involving secondary and primary lithium batteries and, based on this analysis, take appropriate action to mitigate any risks determined to be posed by transporting secondary and primary lithium batteries, including those contained in or packed with equipment, on board cargo and passenger aircraft as cargo; checked baggage; or carry- on items (A-07-108).

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  Eliminate regulatory exemptions for the packaging, marking, and labeling of cargo shipments of small secondary lithium batteries (no more than 8g equivalent lithium content) until the analysis of the failures and the implementation of risk-based requirements asked for in Safety Recommendation A-07-108 are completed (A-07-109).

Safety Recommendation A-07-110

The NTSB makes the following recommendation to the Cargo Airline Association:

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  Work with your member airlines and other groups, such as the Air Transport Association, major aircraft manufacturers, and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Working Group, to develop and disseminate accurate and complete airplane Emergency Response diagrams for ARFF personnel at airports with cargo operations (A-07-110).

Safety Recommendations A-07-111and -112

The NTSB recommends that the Federal Aviation Administration should:

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  Require helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operators to install radar altimeters in all helicopters used in HEMS night operations (A-07-111).

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  Ensure that the minimum equipment lists for helicopters used in helicopter emergency medical services operations require that radar altimeters be operable during flights conducted at night (A-07-112).

Safety Recommendations A-07-113 through -116

The NTSB recommends that the FAA:

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  Require operators of Boeing 777 airplanes to perform regular inspections of the primary and secondary external power receptacles and their protective cover guards to detect signs of worn or overheated pins and thermal damage and repair or replace any damage found (A-07-113).

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  Require Boeing to add a new maintenance task that requires operators to perform scheduled visual inspections of the primary and secondary external power receptacles and their protective cover guards to detect signs of worn or overheated pins and thermal damage before the condition results in electrical arcing and fire (A-07-114).

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  Issue an airworthiness directive requiring operators of Boeing 777 airplanes to comply with Boeing Service Bulletin 777-29-0032 to protect the nose landing gear hydraulic line from the effects of electrical arcing from the primary and secondary external power receptacles (A-07-115).

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  Require Boeing to modify and air carriers to install the protective cover guard for primary and secondary external power receptacles for all model 777 aeroplanes to eliminate the possibility of debris entering the receptacles and causing electrical shorting and arcing between the receptacle studs (A-07-116).

Safety Recommendations A-08-1 and A-08-2

The NTSB makes the following recommendations to the FAA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration:

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  In collaboration with air carriers, manufacturers of lithium batteries and electronic devices, air travel associations, and other appropriate government and private organisations, establish a process to ensure wider, highly visible, and continuous dissemination of guidance and information to the air-traveling public, including flight crews, about the safe carriage of secondary (rechargeable) lithium batteries or electronic devices containing these batteries on board passenger aircraft (A-08-1).

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  In collaboration with air carriers, manufacturers of lithium batteries and electronic devices, air travel associations, and other appropriate government and private organisations, establish a process to periodically measure the effectiveness of your efforts to educate the air-traveling public, including flight crews, about the safe carriage of secondary (rechargeable) lithium batteries or electronic devices containing these batteries on board passenger aircraft (A-08-2).