NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-98-077
Recommendation
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE FAA: REQUIRE ALL CERTIFICATED AIRPORTS TO COORDINATE WITH APPROPRIATE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, ALL STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES THAT MIGHT BECOME INVOLVED IN RESPONDING TO AN AVIATION ACCIDENT INVOLVING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE PLAN FOR THE AIRPORT THAT SPECIFIES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH PARTICIPATING LOCAL REGIONAL, AND STATE AGENCY, AND ADDRESSES THE DISSEMINATION OF INFO ABOUT THE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL INVOLVED. SUCH PLANS SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE TYPES OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENT THAT COULD OCCUR AT THE AIRPORT BASED ON THE POTENTIAL TYPES AND SOURCES OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PASSING THROUGH THE AIRPORT.
AIRPORTS SHOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO COORDINATE THE SCHEDULING OF JOINT EXERCISES TO TEST THESE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EMERGENCY PLANS.
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
May 5, 2004 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
The Safety Board notes that Part 139 Section 325, "Airport Emergency Plan," now includes specific requirements regarding hazardous materials incident response. Additionally, the Board notes that Advisory Circular 150/5200-31A, Airport Emergency Plan, also provides a section on planning factors for such an incident, including the cross-agency coordination outlined in the recommendation. Although the FAA agreed with the Board that triennial full-scale emergency exercises are beneficial, the FAA did not believe they were cost-effective for smaller airports.
In the Stewart International Airport fire, although each agency had conducted individual drills, no joint exercise had been conducted, and the responders had significant difficulty working with the other agencies. The Board continues to believe that joint exercises are needed to test emergency plans. However, the Board is pleased that hazardous materials incident planning is required in Part 139-certificated airport emergency plans. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation A-98-77 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."
February 9, 2004 · Recipient Response · FAA
Section 139.325 Airport Emergency Plan and Advisory Circular 150/5200-31A Airport Emergency Plan provide the requirement to develop and coordinate hazardous materials response plans at all levels.
On page 58 of the final rule published on 2/9/04 were the following comments: Comment: Four commenters request that all certificate holders be required to hold triennial full-scale emergency exercises. One of these commenters, the American Association of Airport Executives, states that ``an emergency plan exercise every 36-months is a reasonable expectation in the testing of an airport emergency plan.'' Another commenter suggests that the FAA require Class II, III, and IV airports to conduct full-scale emergency exercises every 5 years and tabletop reviews every 2 years. This commenter states that annual reviews alone cannot satisfy emergency coordination and response.
FAA Response: The FAA agrees that triennial full-scale emergency exercises are beneficial, but disagrees that all certificate holders should be required to hold such exercises. The cost of such exercises for smaller airports and the local community that participate in these exercises must be considered in evaluating the benefit.