Refer to CAANZ Report ZK HTF 05/3501 for a EC120B helicopter Accidents seldom happen at a convenient time or where you expect. At a moments notice you could be expected to be on a ship or aircraft or on an all terrain vehicle trying to get to places that people seldom visit. Be prepared and organised. You are the on duty safety investigator and you are notified of a helicopter that has been reported missing. Eventually after a two week search it is found. It is a fatal accident. You have had plenty of time to get an investigation team organised and collect background information.
1 – Outline how you would go about selecting a safety investigator team to assist and how you would plan and consider the challenges associated with attending the accident site. Who else may be available to help or give advice.
2- How urgent is this? 3- What tools and equipment would be useful? 4 – What information is available to you and how accurate is it? 5- Consider who you should interview regarding events leading up to this accident.
6- Develop a timeline of occurrences as you become aware of them. Outline how you would go about obtaining technical and regulatory information to assist you in working through what may have occurred. Comment on any issues that you feel are relevant.
Google: Erceg Helicopter The accident enabled a lot of improvements in NZ aviation searching and tracking technology and weather information. This assignment is rich in
available information. As any good investigator would, go and find it. This is not rote learning. It is investigator research
Assignment Instructions: The assignment requires you to as Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) to present an essay that: 1.Sets out how you plan to undertake this accident investigation. Identify what tasks need to be accomplished and their priority.
Bear in mind that you and the other investigator are both based in Wellington, New Zealand and will need to travel to the site. Comment on what activities or actions do you need to undertake or initiate to secure and preserve evidence?
Note what equipment would be of assistance and what information and documentation can be obtained (or access arranged) prior to departure to the accident site.
This may involve liaison with other agencies.
2.As Investigator—in-Charge you are responsible for the investigation as a whole (the technical investigation of events, the securing of evidence and the drafting of the report) but may delegate aspects of the investigation. Outline, with reasons, the aspects of the investigation you would be undertaking and the aspects delegated to the other investigator. As IIC you are also responsible for the investigation management and personnel safety. Comment on steps taken.