WASHINGTON — A tragic incident involving a collision between an American Airlines passenger aircraft and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., resulting in the loss of 67 lives, has drawn fresh attention to the federal body tasked with probing aviation accidents.
Jennifer Hommendy, the Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), emphasized the seriousness of the inquiry during a press conference on Thursday, where she was joined by fellow board members and a lead investigator overseeing the case. She referred to the investigation as an “all-hands-on-deck event.”
Key Insights About the NTSB
The NTSB is an autonomous federal agency dedicated to examining all civil aviation disasters in the United States, along with significant incidents across various modes of transportation, including rail accidents, major vehicle crashes, marine casualties, pipeline failures, and even mishaps involving commercial space travel.
“We’re committed to leaving no stone unturned in this investigation,” stated Hommendy, underlining that the inquiry is still in its initial phases. “Our goal is to conduct a comprehensive examination of this whole tragedy, focusing on the facts.”
The agency comprises five board members, each serving five-year appointments, selected by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Investigation Process Overview
In the wake of the recent crash, the NTSB will create multiple specialized working groups, as explained by board member Todd Inman. These groups will each tackle specific aspects related to the accident.
The proposed groups include operations, which will investigate the flight history and roles of crewmembers; structures, which will document the aircraft wreckage and accident site; power plants, which will analyze the engines and their components; systems, which will examine electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic functionalities of both aircraft; air traffic control, which will evaluate flight tracking data, including radar information and communication between controllers and pilots; survival factors, which will consider injuries sustained by passengers and the crew as well as emergency response efforts; and a dedicated helicopter group.
Additionally, a human-performance group will contribute to the operations, air traffic control, and helicopter groups, scrutinizing crew performance and any potential factors involved, such as human error, fatigue, medication use, medical backgrounds, training, and task load, according to Inman.
Timeline for the Investigation
While NTSB officials did not specify the timeframe for the investigation on Thursday, it’s noted that such inquiries generally take between one and two years to conclude. The agency typically publishes a preliminary report within weeks of the accident that summarizes findings gathered at the site.
NTSB’s Historical Background
The origins of the NTSB can be traced back to 1926, when Congress empowered the U.S. Department of Commerce to look into aviation accidents. The agency was formally established as an independent entity within the U.S. Department of Transportation in 1967, and further separated by Congress in 1974 to function independently from other federal organizations.
Since its inception in 1967, the NTSB has reported investigating over 153,000 aviation-related accidents and incidents.
