NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-67-016
Recommendation
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL PASSENGERS BE MADE AWARE OF THE PROCEDURES REQUIRED TO MOVE THE SEATS OUT OF THE WAY OF THE WINDOW EXITS. FURTHER, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT AIRLINES UTILIZING MOVABLE PARTITIONS BETWEEN PASSENGER COMPARTMENTS ASSURE THAT THE OVERHEAD SIGNS ARE PROPERLY PLACED TO DEPICT THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE WINDOW EXITS AND THAT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS BE REQUIRED TO INDICATE WHERE EACH EMERGENCY EXIT IS LOCATED DURING THE PRE-TAKEOFF BRIEFING.
Safety Issue and Context
RECENTLY WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL LETTERS FROM AIRLINE PASSENGERS PERTAINING TO AIRCRAFT EVACUATION HAZARDS THEY HAVE OBSERVED ON DIFFERENT FLIGHTS. THE LETTER FROM MR. T. D. COLLINS IS AN EXAMPLE AND IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR INFORMATION. ONE PROBLEM MENTIONED IS THAT QUITE OFTEN A SEAT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE OVER-WING WINDOW EXITS. THE EMERGENCY INFORMATION CARDS DO NOT INDICATE AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS DO NOT EXPLAIN WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE SEAT IN ORDER TO OPEN THE WINDOW IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCIES REQUIRING AIRCRAFT EVACUATION.
EVEN IF ADEQUATE INFORMATION WERE PRINTED ON OR ADJACENT TO THE WINDOW ITSELF, VALUABLE TIME WOULD BE LOST TRYING TO READ IT IN EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. FURTHERMORE, THE INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED MAY BE IN A DAZED CONDITION FROM THE FORCE OF IMPACT AND/ OR LIGHTING CONDITIONS MAY PRECLUDE READING. ANOTHER PROBLEM MENTIONED BY MR. COLLINS IS THAT THE OVERHEAD EXIT SIGNS ARE SOMETIMES PLACED IN THE WRONG POSITION AND/OR SOMETIMES THE PARTITIONS BETWEEN THE FIRST-CLASS COMPARTMENT AND THE TOURIST COMPARTMENT HIDE THE WINDOW EXITS FROM VIEW OF THE TOURIST COMPARTMENT.
Response History
May 8, 1967 · Recipient Response · FAA
THE AGENCY HAS BELIEVED FOR SOME TIME THAT ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS ARE NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE CRASHWORTHINESS AND EMERGENCY EVACUATION STANDARDS. EARLY IN 1966 AN AGENCY TASK FORCE WAS ESTABLISHED TO STUDY FACTORS AFFECTING CRASHWORTHINESS AND EVACUATION THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS TO REVIEW THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING REGULATIONS AND TO RECOMMEND REGULATORY CHANGES AS NECESSARY. BASED ON THESE STUDIES AND INDUSTRY DISCUSSIONS, NOTICES OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING NUMBERS 66-26 DATED JULY 29, 1966, AND 66-26A DATED SEPTEMBER 7, 1966, WERE ISSUED.
NOTICE 66-26 CONTAINS (AMONG OTHER THINGS) REGULATORY PROPOSALS AIMED AT ENSURING ADEQUATE ACCESS TO TYPE III AND TYPE IV EMERGENCY EXITS. THE SEAT BACK PROBLEM IS SPECIFICALLY SPOKEN TO. WE ARE PRESENTLY STUDYING THE COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY INTERESTED PERSONS BEFORE TAKING FINAL ACTION. CONCERNING THE POINTS MENTIONED IN THE THIRD PARAGRAPH OF YOUR LETTER, OUR CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE REGULATION SECTION 121.310(B) CONTAINS PROVISIONS DEALING WITH EMERGENCY EXIT LOCATING SIGNS, INCLUDING A PROVISION CATERING TO SITUATIONS IN WHICH EMERGENCY EXITS ARE OBSCURED BY PARTITIONS. WE WILL LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THESE PROVISIONS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH BY SOME AIR CARRIERS.
WE WILL ALSO AGAIN CALL TO THE ATTENTION OF AIR CARRIERS THE NECESSITY FOR HAVING CABIN ATTENDANTS POINT OUT THE LOCATION OF EMERGENCY EXITS DURING THEIR PRE-TAKEOFF BRIEFING.