Source: https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwlfs-19-20/mwl3-fsa.aspx
Timestamp: 2019-08-21 16:26:09
Document Index: 693602038

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 135', 'art 135', 'art 135', 'art 135', 'art 135', 'art 135', 'art 135', 'art 135']

Home > SAFETY ADVOCACY > Most Wanted List > Improve the Safety of Part 135 Aircraft Flight Operations
Regardless of the purpose of the flight or the type of aircraft, all flights should be safe—right now they may not be. That’s because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) doesn’t require air medical service, air taxi, charter, or on-demand flights to meet the same safety requirements as commercial airlines. Even without requirements, many such operators could be taking more initiative to ensure the highest level of safety for their aircraft and passengers.
CFIT-avoidance training programs are required for Part 135 helicopter operations, but not for Part 135 fixed-wing operations. We have investigated several fatal CFIT accidents involving flights operated under visual flight rules at low altitudes where terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) alerts were inhibited due to the lack of effective TAWS protections and nuisance-alert mitigations.
Despite the availability of SMS, FDM, and CFIT-avoidance programs, Continued on next page Improve the Safety of Part 135 Aircraft Flight Operations preventable crashes involving Part 135 aircraft are occurring all too frequently, like the November 10, 2015, fatal accident in Akron, Ohio, involving a British Aerospace HS 125-700A. Our investigation identified a lack of compliance with standard operating procedures that could have been mitigated with an SMS.
Our investigation of the October 2, 2016, crash of a turbine-powered Cessna 208B Grand Caravan airplane into steep, mountainous terrain northwest of Togiak, Alaska, identified safety issues related to a lack of SMS, FDM, and adequate CFIT training and technology use. In this accident, which killed two pilots and the passenger, we discovered the need for improvements in the operator’s CFIT-avoidance training, and the need for SMS and FDM programs (and supporting devices) for Part 135 operators, among other issues.
To increase use of SMS, FDM, and CFIT programs in Part 135 aircraft, the following actions should be taken:
Work with Part 135 operators to improve voluntarily implemented training programs aimed at reducing the risk of CFIT accidents involving continuing flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, paying special attention to human factors issues.
AAR-18/02:
Collision with Terrain Hageland Aviation Services, Inc. dba Ravn Connect Flight 3153 Cessna 208B, N208SD; Togiak, Alaska; October 2, 2016;
Accident ID ANC17MA001
AAR1603:
Crash During Nonprecision Instrument Approach to Landing Execuflight Flight 1526 British Aerospace HS 125- 700A, N237WR; Akron, Ohio; November 10, 2015;
Accident ID CEN16MA036
AAR-06/04:
Runway Overrun and Collision, Platinum Jet Management, LLC, Bombardier Challenger CL-600-1A11, N370V; Teterboro, New Jersey; February 2, 2005;
Accident ID DCA05MA031