NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-98-075
Recommendation
THE NTSB RECOMMEND THAT THE FAA: REQUIRE, WITHIN 2 YEARS, THAT AIR CARRIERS TRANSPORTING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS HAVE THE MEANS, 24 HOURS DAY, TO QUICKLY RETRIEVE & PROVIDE CONSOLIDATED, SPECIFIC INFO ABOUT THE IDENTITY (INCLUDING PROPER SHIPPING NAME), HAZARD CLASS, QUANTITY, NUMBER OF PACKAGES, & LOCATION OF ALL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON AN AIRPLANE IN A TIMELY MANNER TO EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
Safety Issue and Context
ABOUT 0554 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, ON 9/5/96, A DOUGLAS DC-10-10CF, N68055, OPERATED BY THE FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION (FEDEX) AT FLIGHT 1406, MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT STEWART INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, AFTER THE FLIGHTCREW DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CABIN CARGO COMPARTMENT. THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 121 AS A CARGO FLIGHT FROM MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, TO BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. THREE CREWMEMBERS AND TWO NONREVENUE PASSENGERS WERE ABOARD THE AIRPLANE. THE CAPTAIN AND FLIGHT ENGINEER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES WHILE EVACUATING THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE AFTER THE LANDING.
Response History
April 22, 1999 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
A-98-75 ASKED THE FAA TO REQUIRE, WITHIN 2 YEARS, THAT AIR CARRIERS TRANSPORTING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS HAVE THE MEANS, 24 HOURS PER DAY, TO QUICKLY RETRIEVE AND PROVIDE CONSOLIDATED, SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE IDENTITY (INCLUDING PROPER SHIPPING NAME), HAZARD CLASS, QUANTITY, NUMBER OF PACKAGES, AND LOCATION OF ALL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON AN AIRPLANE IN A TIMELY MANNER TO EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. SINCE THE ISSUANCE OF A-98-75, RSPA HAS AGREED THAT IT, NOT THE FAA, CAN BEST ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK BECAUSE IT IS WITHIN RSPA'S REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITY. HOWEVER, WE ENCOURAGE THE FAA TO SUPPORT RSPA IN THIS ACTION, WHEN POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE OF RSPA'S ASSUMPTION OF LEAD AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY, A-98-75 IS CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--NO LONGER APPLICABLE."
October 27, 1998 · Recipient Response · FAA
Letter Mail Controlled 11/2/98 5:28:03 PM MC# 981312 THIS SAFETY RECOMMENDATION IS IDENTICAL TO A-98-80 ISSUED TO THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION (RSPA). CURRENTLY, 49 CFR 175.33 REQUIRES THAT AIR CARRIERS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MAINTAIN THE PROPER SHIPPING NAME, HAZARD CLASS, QUANTITY, LOCATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF THE MATERIALS ON BOARD AN AIRCRAFT. THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO THE PILOT OF THE AIRCRAFT AT THE ORIGINATING STATION. SUPPLEMENTING THIS INFORMATION IS THE SHIPPERS DECLARATION, WHICH IS DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL SHIPMENT.
RSPA IS DRAFTING AN ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING PROPOSING TO REQUIRE AIR CARRIERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION DURING INSTANCES OF EMERGENCIES. RSPA, AS THE LEAD AGENCY ON THIS ISSUE, WILL KEEP THE BOARD INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF THIS RULEMAKING IN RESPONSE TO A-98-80. I CONSIDER THE FAA'S ACTION TO BE COMPLETED, AND I ASK THAT YOU CLASSIFY A-98-75 IN A "CLOSED" STATUS.