• Organization. Before or after the accident scene familiarization visit, AAIU IIC should hold an organizational meeting. The organizational meeting for most accidents may be an informal conversation involving AAIU IIC and one or more of the following:
     
    1. AAIU participants;
    2. FSD participants or aircraft Operator;
    3. Owner or Manufacturer representatives

    4. The purpose of the meeting is to define briefly the AAIU’s responsibility procedures and objectives investigation participants are also apprised of what is expected of them. 

  • Investigation. After completing the organizational meeting and ensuring the documentation and / or preservation of perishable evidence, e.g., human factors data, fuel samples, pressurized systems, and transient witnesses, AAIU IIC shall expedite the on-scene investigation. Photographs of the accident scene are a good place to start. 

     
  • Documentation. Further documentation by notes, measurements, etc, is necessary to be completed. The most thorough photographic coverage, suggested documentation subjects include:
  1. Wreckage distribution using the most suitable wreckage plotting techniques and forms (e.g. ICAO Doc. 6920-AN/855, ICAO Doc. 9756-AN/965 Part I & IV or any other specialized handbooks).
  2. Human Bodies distribution
  3. External flight control positions, e.g., rudder, elevators, ailerons, flaps, slats, spoilers, stabilizers, and tabs.
  4. Cockpit flight control indications.
  5. Cockpit instrument readings.
  6. Abnormalities in cabin and cockpit areas.
  • Investigation Suggestions. During the investigation certain evidence will require more detailed examination. The knowledgeable, experienced investigator is continually evaluating evidence as a possible causal factor. The following suggestions may stimulate the investigator’s analyses.
  1. Missing extremities; wing or horizontal stabilizer tips, vertical stabilizer tip, propeller, or rotor tips.
  2. Missing flight control surfaces; rudder, elevators, ailerons, flaps, stabilizers, spoilers, slats, tabs, etc.
  3. Missing structure.
  4. Pre-impact versus post-crash fire evidence.
  5. Metal fatigue versus instantaneous breaks.
  6. In flight versus impact breaks.
  7. Positive versus negative wing or stabilizer separation.
  8. Overloading or out-of-center-of-gravity evidence.
  9. Evidence of aircraft attitude at impact.
  10. Controlled versus uncontrolled attitude at impact.
  11. Engine power at impact.
  12. Systems operation before impact.
  13. Flight control problems.
  14. Evidence of an explosion.
  15. Cockpit documentation.
  16. Evidence of impact before final contact with terrain; trees, wires, buildings, terrain, poles, obstructions.
  17. Witnesses.
  18. Aircraft performance.
  19. Meteorological conditions.