NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-98-076
Recommendation
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE FAA: REQUIRE THE PRINCIPAL OPERATIONS INSPECTOR FOR FEDERAL EXPRESS (FEDEX) TO ENSURE THAT ALL FEDEX EMPLOYEES WHO MAY COMMUNICATE WITH EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ABOUT A TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENT INVOLVING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY SHOULD PROVIDE THOSE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WITH ANY AVAILABLE INFO ABOUT HAZARDOUS MATERIALS THAT MAY BE INVOLVED.
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
THE SAFETY BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT ON 8/19/98, A SIMULATED AIRCRAFT MISHAP RESPONSE INVOLVING COMPANY-WIDE PARTICIPATION WAS COMPLETED. AS A RESULT OF THAT EXERCISE, THE FAA AND FEDEX INDICATED THAT THEY FEEL CONFIDENT THAT FEDEX EMPLOYEES MOST LIKELY TO COMMUNICATE WITH EMERGENCY RESPONDERS HAVE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF COMPANY POLICY, AND THE WRITTEN GUIDANCE IS CLEAR AND AVAILABLE. BECAUSE THESE ACTIONS MEET THE INTENT OF A-98-76, IT IS CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."
October 27, 1998 · Recipient Response · FAA
Letter Mail Controlled 11/2/98 5:28:03 PM MC# 981312 FEDEX HAS A PROCEDURE IN ITS AIRCRAFT MISHAP RESPONSE PLAN THAT CLEARLY TELLS ITS EMPLOYEES TO ASSIST LOCAL FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE CREWS WITH HAZARDS ON AIRCRAFT. THE IMMEDIATE ACTION SPECIFIED IN THE PLAN IS TO DETERMINE IF DANGEROUS GOODS ARE ON THE AIRCRAFT AND BE PREPARED TO ADVISE LOCAL FIREFIGHTING AND RESCUE CREWS ABOUT ANY ASSOCIATED HAZARDS. THE FEDEX PROCEDURE CURRENTLY IN PLACE MEETS THE FULL INTENT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION. I HAVE ENCLOSED A COPY OF THE PERTINENT SECTION OF THE PLAN FOR THE BOARD'S INFORMATION.