Opinion ID: 185028
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: NTSB Investigations

Text: 7 NTSB is a uniquely independent federal agency responsible for investigating airplane accidents, determining the probable cause of accidents, and making recommendations to help protect against future accidents. See 49 U.S.C. §§ 1131, 1132, 1135 (1994). NTSB neither promulgates nor enforces any air safety regulations. Nor does the agency adjudicate claims over liability for accidents. Rather, it simply analyzes accidents and recommends ways to prevent similar accidents in the future. 8 Congress has endowed NTSB with broad powers to accomplish its missions, because the work of the agency is viewed as extremely important. See S. Rep. No. 101-450, at 2 (1990) (The NTSB's mission ... is critical.). An officer or employee of the Board can enter a site where an accident has occurred and do anything necessary to conduct an investigation. 49 U.S.C. 1134(a)(1) (1994). The Board may inspect and test any aircraft, aircraft engine, or property on an aircraft that has been involved in an accident, and the Board has sole discretion to determine how those tests are to be conducted. See 49 U.S.C. 1134(b), (d) (1994). Most importantly, the Board's investigations have priority over any investigation by another department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government. 49 U.S.C. 1131(a)(2) (1994). The Board has used these broad powers wisely, achieving notable successes in its work and receiving high praise for the integrity of its investigative processes. See S. Rep. No. 104-324, at 2 (1996) (The Safety Board's reputation for impartiality and thoroughness has enabled it to achieve such success in shaping transportation safety improvements that more than 80 percent of its recommendations have been implemented.). 9 Although NTSB investigations are conducted by agency staff, outside individuals may be designated to participate as well. Only the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a right to participate in an investigation; however, the Board's regulations allow the individual in charge of an investigation to designate private parties to participate if their involvement would assist the investigation. See 49 C.F.R. 831.11 (1998). The regulations specify that parties shall be limited to those persons, government agencies, companies, and associations whose employees, functions, activities, or products were involved in the accident or incident.Id. 10 It is often the case that corporations or individuals suspected of causing an accident will be invited to participate in an investigation, whereas victims of the accident will not. The rationale for this approach is that parties who may have caused an accident will provide investigators with valuable information; they may also learn how to improve the safety of their products or activities to avoid future accidents. The same cannot be said of accident victims. See John W. Simpson, Use of Aircraft Accident Investigation Information in Actions for Damages, 17 J. Air L. & Com. 283, 290 (1950) ([R]epresentatives of industry and employee groups are often permitted to participate in the investigation and thus have access to much information, while the representatives of the victims seldom participate in the investigation. These procedures are absolutely necessary in order to determine the probable cause of an accident.). 11 Moreover, an NTSB investigation is a fact-finding proceeding[ ] with no formal issues and no adverse parties. [It is] ... not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person. 49 C.F.R. 831.4 (1998).Board regulations and policies are explicit in providing that parties participating in an investigation are involved in NTSB processes only to assist the safety mission and not to prepare for litigation. Parties are required to sign a Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation, which requires them to agree that their participation is not for the purposes of preparing for litigation, but, rather, for the purpose of providing technical assistance to the [NTSB].Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigators reprinted in 1 Deferred Appendix, at 435; see also 49 C.F.R. 831.11(b) (requiring parties to sign the Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation in order to participate in the investigation). 12 Parties assist the investigation in a variety of ways. See Information for the Guidance of Parties to Safety Board Investigations of Accidents (Guidance), reprinted in Br. for Respondents at 1c; see also Guidance for Party Coordinators and Other Participants in the Investigation of Aircraft Accidents, 2 National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Investigation Manual, app. D (containing much of the same information). They provide information about their products or activities. They may also join various groups organized for the investigation, such as a group organized to investigate hazardous materials. They report to the investigator in charge, who, in turn, provides the groups and parties with information about any developments in the investigation.These groups may then write a report at the end of the investigation detailing their findings and suggestions. Parties may also submit their own report at the end of the investigation suggesting the probable cause of the accident. 13 In addition to the reports submitted by the investigation groups and the parties, NTSB investigators also prepare factual accident reports that are submitted to the Board.Public hearings are sometimes held. From this information, the Board compiles and publishes a final accident report that contains factual findings, a probable cause finding, and safety recommendations.