IRISH COAST GUARD OPERATIONS MEMORANDUM 50/02 COAST GUARD (1) DIRECTOR (1) CHIEF of OPERATIONS (1) CHIEF ENGINEER (1) REGIONAL CONTROLLERS (3) DIVISIONAL CONTROLLERS (3) OPERATIONS & TRAINING OFFICERS (2) AREA OFFICER (52) STOREKEEPER (1) CG ADMINISTRATION (1) NOTICE BOARDS (3) AIR ACCIDENTS STANDING OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES CHRIS REYNOLDS REGIONAL CONTROLLER VOLUNTARY SERVICES & SERVICES COAST GUARD Dated:
AIR ACCIDENTS STANDING OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES (SOP s) 1. Introduction This Memorandum is to instruct IRCG personnel in the correct procedure when attending at the scene of an air accident. 2. Air Accident Investigation Branch All aircraft accidents are reportable to the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), located at Dublin Airport. The responsible MRCC/MRSC shall carry this out and will request the information listed at para 3 from the emergency Units attending on scene. The field investigation carried out by the AAIB will necessitate painstaking examination of all wreckage, receipt and analysis of pathological evidence and documentation of eyewitness reports to try and determine the cause of the accident. 3. Information required by MRCC/MRSC The type, model, nationality and registration marks of the aircraft, if known; The date and time (UTC) of the accident; The number of crew and passengers onboard and the numbers killed or seriously injured; The nature of the accident so far as it is known; The position of the accident by OS grid reference, Lat/Long or by relation to some easily defined geographical location; Brief particulars of damage to the aircraft; Any other relevant information. 4. Accident Site Security IRCG personnel should not enter or disturb an air accident site except to save life. Survivors should be removed to a treatment site upwind and away from the crash site. Once there is no further hope of saving life all personnel must withdraw and cordon off the area. Although it is primarily a police function to secure an accident site, all emergency personnel need to be aware of the reasons for its implementation. Unauthorised personnel should be prevented from having access to the site. Feet trampling items into the ground can destroy vital evidence. Some people are tempted to move functional switches
and levers from their pre-accident position, which then provides negative and confusing information. Other people are tempted to remove items as souvenirs thus removing evidence from the scene. Unauthorised personnel may carry ignition sources on them unaware of the hazard involved. 5. Dangers Of Crashed A/C IRCG Personnel are not trained to enter downed aircraft. No attempt should be made to affect a rescue should this pose any significant threat to the rescuer. An aircraft accident site contains many dangers, which are potentially fatal to the untrained, e.g. Fuel - Toxic, Fire, Explosion; Burning Man made fibre/synthetic Materials - Oils, Hydraulics; Magnesium Fire; Compressed Air; Pyrotechnics; Electricity; Unstable Structures; Body Fluid Contamination; Extremely sharp poly carbon fibre spikes; Hazards posed by the cargo. 6. Preservation of evidence All functional systems whether fixed or portable that need to be cut away or moved to effect rescue of occupants should be noted and recorded before moving and cutting is carried out. A commandeered camera is ideal for this purpose. At the very least a sketch should be made. All personal effects and aircraft documents that are in danger of being blown away or destroyed should be collected and handed to the police or AAIB, e.g. Passports; Wallets; Credit cards; Cheque books; Letters Log Books, Maps, Licences, Aircraft certificates. On no account should it be assumed that personal items found adjacent to a body belong to that body and placed with it, e.g. false teeth, clothing, handbags.
7. Removal of bodies Bodies are not to be removed from the scene of the accident except on permission of Officers of the AAIB. Positions of bodies, and aircraft recorders if found, should be marked by stakes in the ground. 8. Do Not Move wreckage unless it is vital Remove bodies unless required Remove or attach personal effects from or to bodies Handle flight or cockpit recorders Move outlying wreckage Walk or drive over ground impact marks Allow unauthorised access to the site Ignore personal protection biohazards as well as mechanical, fuel, explosive, compressed gas, electrical and chemical hazards.