Source: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/Recommendation.aspx?Rec=A-15-016
Timestamp: 2019-08-18 00:49:03
Document Index: 86821899

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 91', 'art 121', 'art 125', 'art 91', 'art 121', 'art 125', 'art 91', 'art 121', 'art 125', 'art 91', 'art 121', 'art 125', 'arts 91']

Safety Recommendation A-15-016
Recommendation: TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: Include specific guidance in the Federal Aviation Administration inspector handbook that defines responsibilities for principal inspectors for the oversight of an operator’s loading, restraint, and documentation of special cargo loads.
Response: We note that you continue to revise the following sections of FAA Order 8900.1, “Flight Standards Information Management System”: •	Volume 3, Chapter 47, section 1, “Evaluating a Certificate Holder’s/Applicant’s Weight & Balance Control Program.” •	Volume 6, Chapter 2, section 4, “Ramp Inspections for Part 91K, 125, 141, 142 Operators and Part 121 and 135 Air Carriers.” •	Volume 6, Chapter 2, section 5, “Ramp Inspections on Cargo Loading (including Part 125).” Pending revisions to the order that provide clear guidance on how each inspector should oversee an operator’s loading, restraint, and documentation of special cargo loads, Safety Recommendation A-15-16 remains classified OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.
Response: -From Daniel K. Elwell, Acting Administrator: As we have reported in previous responses, we are revising the following sections of FAA Order 8900.1 , Flight Standards Information Management System, to specifically address this recommendation: • Volume 3 Chapter 47, Section 1, Safety Assurance System: Evaluating a Certificate Holder's Applicant's Weight and Balance Control Program; • Volume 6, Chapter 2, Section 4, Safety Assurance System: Ramp Inspections for Part 91 K. 125. 141 , 142 Operators and Part 121and135 Air Carriers; and • Volume 6. Chapter 2, Section 5, Safety Assurance System; Ramp Inspections on Cargo Loading (including Part 125). We previously reported that we expected to have the revisions completed by February 2018. The coordination process has taken longer than anticipated. The revised documents are in the final coordination stage, and we anticipate publishing the revisions prior to December 2018. I will keep the Board informed of the FAA's progress on these recommendations and provide an update by February 28, 2019.
Response: We note that you are revising the following sections of FAA Order 8900.1, “Flight Standards Information Management System”: •	Volume 3, Chapter 47, section 1, “Evaluating a Certificate Holder’s/Applicant’s Weight & Balance Control Program.” •	Volume 6, Chapter 2, section 4, “Ramp Inspections for Part 91K, 125, 141, 142 Operators and Part 121 and 135 Air Carriers.” •	Volume 6, Chapter 2, section 5, “Conduct Ramp Inspection on Cargo Loading (Including Part 125).” Pending completion of revisions to the order that provide clear guidance on how each inspector should oversee an operator’s loading, restraint, and documentation of special cargo loads, Safety Recommendation A-15-16 remains classified OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.
Response: -From Michael P. Huerta, Administrator: The FAA continues to revise the following portions of FAA Order 8900.1. Flight Standards information Management System: • Volume 3 Chapter 47. Section 1, Safety Assurance System: Evaluating a Certificate Holder's/Applicant’s Weight and Balance Control Program; • Volume 6, Chapter 2, Section 4, Safety Assurance System: Ramp Inspections for Part 91K. 125, 141, 142 Operators and Part 121 and 135 Air Ca1Tiers; and • Volume 6, Chapter 2, Section 5, Safety Assurance System: Conduct Ramp Inspection on Cargo Loading (Including Part 125). As we have progressed with updating the previous chapters, we discovered that th is section also needed to be revised as it addresses some of the same issues. The guidance contained in the sections above is for the inspectors with oversight of an operator’s loading, restraint, and documentation of special cargo loads and clearly defines the specific areas of airworthiness and operations responsibilities in relation to elements of weight and balance, airplane limitations, and cargo operations. We expect to have the revisions completed by February 2018. I will provide the Board with an update on this recommendation by April 30, 2018.
Response: We issued this recommendation based on our finding in the investigation of the April 29, 2013, National Airlines accident, that the lack of clear guidance regarding FAA inspector responsibility for oversight of cargo-handling personnel resulted in minimal oversight at National Airlines and enabled critical safety deficiencies to persist. We were concerned that the safety-critical duties of cargo-handling personnel were overseen by both the principal operations inspector and the principal maintenance inspector, and there was no clear guidance on how each inspector should oversee an operator’s loading, restraint, and documentation of special cargo loads. We note that, to address this concern, you are currently revising the following sections of FAA Order 8900.1, “Flight Standards Information Management System”: •	Volume 3, Chapter 47, Section 1, “Evaluating a Certificate Holder’s/Applicant’s Weight & Balance Control Program”; and •	Volume 6, Chapter 2, Section 4, “Ramp Inspections.” Pending completion of revisions to FAA Order 8900.1 that satisfy Safety Recommendation A-15-016, it is classified OPEN—ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.
Response: -From Michael P. Huerta, Administrator: The FAA is currently revising the following sections of FAA Order 8900.1, Flight Standards Information Management System: Volume 3, Chapter 47, Section I, Evaluating a Certificate Holder's! Applicant's Weight & Balance Control Program; and Volume 6. Chapter 2, Section 4, Ramp Inspections. These revisions will clearly define the responsibilities for the principal inspectors with oversight of an operator· s loading. restraint, and documentation of special cargo loads. We estimate that the revisions will be completed in 2017.
Response: We have reviewed the guidance contained in revised Order 8900.1, published on June 25, 2015, but have found no responsibilities that it defines for principle inspectors regarding the oversight of an operator’s special cargo loads. As this accident investigation demonstrated, such ambiguity led to a lack of oversight. Pending our review of further revisions to Order 8900.1 that address this concern, Safety Recommendation A-15-16 is classified OPEN—UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.
Response: -From Michael P. Huerta, Administrator: On June 25, 2015, the FAA published revisions to FAA Order 8900.1, Flight Standards Information Management System. The revisions include changes to: • Volume 3, Chapter 47, Section 1, which provides guidance for evaluating a certificate holder's/applicant's Weight and Balance control program procedures; and • Volume 6, Chapter 2, Section 5, which provides guidance for conducting surveillance and inspection on Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations parts 91K, 121, 125, and 135 passenger, cargo, combination, and regional passenger aircraft that transport cargo, passenger baggage, company material, and hazardous materials in the upper deck, lower deck, forward and/or aft cargo compartments, or pods. We believe the revised Order 8900.1, available at the URL below, meets the requirement of this recommendation and request that it be classified as "Closed-Acceptable Action." http://fsims.faa.gov/PICDetail.aspx?docld=8900.1.CH0407.