NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-76-028
Recommendation
DEVELOP STANDARDS FOR TYPE CERTIFICATION DEMONSTRATION TESTS OF PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN SYSTEMS.
Safety Issue and Context
SEVERAL RAPID DECOMPRESSION MISHAPS INVOLVING DC-10 AND L-1011 AIRCRAFT HAVE DISCLOSED PROBLEMS WITH CHEMICALLY GENERATED PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN SYSTEMS. THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD'S SPECIAL STUDY, "CHEMICALLY GENERATED SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN SYSTEMS IN DC-10 AND L-1011 AIRCRAFT"1/INDICATES THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE PRIMARILY THE RESULT OF A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE SYSTEM BY BOTH PASSENGERS AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS.
Response History
February 16, 1978 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
Closed Unacceptable Action
February 11, 1977 · Recipient Response · FAA
We reiterate our previous comment concerning the provisions ofar 25.1301(d), and concerning special conditions for novel and unusual design features. The dc-10 passenger masks are in the seat backs; mask door opening tests were done to establish the reliability of the design feature. Extensive tests were done on the reliability of the dc-10 solid state oxygen generators. The faa witnessed several of these tests. Passenger procedures for utilization of masks in the dc-10 are essentially the same as the procedures used in earlier airplanes such as the dc-8 and boeing 707.
December 29, 1976 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
We recommend reconsideration of this recommendation.
August 2, 1976 · Recipient Response · FAA
IN REGARD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS FOR TYPE CERTIFICATION DEMONSTRATION TESTS, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS A NEED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL DEMONSTATIONS AS THIS IS COVERED AT TIME OF AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 25.1301(D).RESPONSE DATED 2/11/77 "WE REITERATE OUR PREVIOUS COMMENT CONCERNING THE PROVISIONS OF FAR 25.1301(D), AND CONCERNING SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR NOVEL AND UNUSUAL DESIGN FEATURES. THE DC-10 PASSENGER MASKS ARE IN THE SEAT BACKS; MASK DOOR OPENING TESTS WERE DONE TO ESTABLISH THE RELIABILITY OF THIS DESIGN FEATURE. EXTENSIVE TESTS WERE DONE ON THE RELIABILITY OF THE DC-10 SOLID STATE OXYGEN GENERATORS. THE FAA WITNESSED SEVERAL OF THESE TESTS.
PASSENGER PROCEDURES FOR UTILIZATION OF MASKS IN THE DC-10 ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THE PROCEDURES USED IN EARLIER AIRPLANES SUCH AS THE DC-8 AND BOEING 707."