NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-73-068
Recommendation
TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: Require emergency oxygen bottles with full-face smoke masks for each cabin attendant on turbine-power transport aircraft in order to permit the attendants to combat lavatory and cabin fires. (Superseded by A-83-70 through A-83-81).
Safety Issue and Context
A RECENT IN-FLIGHT FIRE ON A BOEING 707-300 (SERIES) AIRCRAFT RESULTED IN 124 FATALITIES AND TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER A SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCY LANDING. THE IN-FLIGHT CABIN INTERIOR FIRE DID NOT INVOLVE THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL BUT WAS FED BY THE INTERIOR'S MATERIAL.
Response History
October 31, 1983 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
To promote a comprehensive program to address the potentially hazardous situation posed by in-flight fires, the Safety Board is issuing new Safety Recommendations rather than reiterating relevant Safety Recommendations previously issued to the FAA. The Safety Board will close Safety Recommendations A-73-68, A-73-70, and A-74-5 as having been superseded by recommendations A-83-70 through A-83-81.
August 19, 1981 · Recipient Response · FAA
FAA LTR: IT IS NO LONGER NECESSARY TO INITIATE RULEMAKING TO UPDATE A TSO. THE RULEMAKING PROJECT ON PROTECTIVE BREATHING EQUIPMENT (PBE) HAS BEEN TERMINATED BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT MATERIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO MAINTAINING A SAFE AVIATION SYSTEM AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE MEANINGFUL PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS AND COST SAVINGS IN REGULATIONS. TSO-C78 IS CURRENTLY BEING REVISED UNDER THE NEW PROCESS. WHEN THIS EFFORT IS COMPLETED, FAA INTENDS TO USE AN ADVISORY CIRCULAR RECOMMENDING THAT OPERATORS MODIFY THEIR PBE TO THE NEW TSO, SPECIFY WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FURNISHING PBE, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PBE FOR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.
March 14, 1979 · Recipient Response · FAA
FAA LTR: A REVISION TO FAR SECTION 25.1439(A) WAS ADOPTED UNDER AMENDMENT 25-38 ISSUED 12/13/76, AND EFFECTIVE 2/1/77. AIRWORTHINESS REVIEW PROGRAM, NPRM 75-10, PROPOSAL 2-91, WHICH PROPOSED TO AMEND SECTION 25.1439(B)(2)(II) CONCERNING STANDARDS FOR MASKS AND EYE COVERINGS, WAS WITHDRAWN. NEW STANDARDS ARE BEING CONSIDERED FOR A LATER RULEMAKING PROJECT.
May 2, 1974 · Recipient Response · FAA
FAA LTR: FAA AGREES THAT FULL FACE MASKS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO CABIN ATTENDANTS, BUT DO NOT BELIEVE THIS SHOULD APPLY TO WIDE BODY AIRPLANES BECAUSE OF LARGE NUMBER OF ATTENDANTS. FAA PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO FAR'S 25.1439(A) AND 121.337 TO PROVIDE FOR FULL PROTECTION.