Flight data recorder approval process
The Department of Transport validate its approval process for FDRs to ensure that current procedures are adequate to meet the ANO and Engineering and Inspection Manual requirements.
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Air transportation safety investigation report
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| Date the recommendation was issued |
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| Date of the latest response |
April 2014
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| Date of the latest assessment |
January 2004
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| Rating of the latest response |
Fully Satisfactory
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| File status |
Closed
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All responses are those of the stakeholders to the TSB in written communications and are reproduced in full. The TSB corrects typographical errors in the material it reproduces without indication but uses brackets [ ] to show other changes or to show that part of the response was omitted because it was not pertinent.
Summary of the occurrence
On 26 September 1989, a Fairchild Metro III was on a scheduled flight from Vancouver to Terrace, British Columbia with two pilots and five passengers on board. The aircraft crashed one-quarter mile to the west of the Terrace Airport while the crew was attempting to carry out a missed approach in IFR conditions. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and a post-crash fire. All seven persons on board were fatally injured in the crash.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that the crew continued with the approach beyond the missed approach point without establishing the required visual references. The evidence indicates that, while subsequently carrying out a missed approach in IFR conditions, the aircraft was flown into the ground in a manner consistent with disorientation. Contributing to the occurrence were the inadequacy of the company's operating procedures, reduced operating standards, and the inadequate definition of the visual references required for a circling approach.
As a result of the investigation into this occurrence, eight recommendations were issued to TC on January 7, 1991.
The Board concluded its investigation and released report A89H0007 on 11 December 1990.
Rationale for the recommendation
Board Recommendation A90-93 (07 January 1991)
FDR approval process
According to the Flight Data Recorder Order ANO Series II No.13 and a TC waiver policy on FDRs, the METRO III should have been equipped with a six-parameter digital FDR. In addition, ANO Series II No.13 and the Engineering and Inspection Manual (Part II Section 3.9) require the existence of FDR calibration and correlation documentation and a company maintenance plan for each FDR installation.
Ensuring that an appropriate FDR was installed should have been part of the TC approval process for the operation of this aircraft under the company's OC. This should have been done using TC Form 26-0046, which includes FDR availability as a check-off item for the TC Regional Air Carrier submission to TC Headquarters. Since this form does not include a specific provision for designating the type of FDR, the unauthorized FDR was not detected by the TC officials certifying the aircraft.
Ensuring that the FDR met the airworthiness installation and functional requirements should also have been part of the TC approval process for the aircraft's C of A. Normally, this should have been done when the initial type approval was done, based on the calibration data provided by the manufacturer. However, an imported aircraft's FDR is considered a follow-on installation; therefore, before a Canadian C of A for this aircraft was issued, the company should have been required to provide TC with the FDR calibration and correlation data, along with proof of the proper operation of the FDR and the existence of a company maintenance plan.
For the accident aircraft, a proper-type FDR was not installed, the calibration data was not provided to TC, the company did not have an FDR maintenance plan, and neither the company nor TC verified the proper operation of the installed FDR. FDR orders and standards exist to provide important information concerning flight characteristics for accident investigations and subsequent accident prevention. The absence of FDR heading information for this occurrence precluded an accurate determination of the flight path during the final minutes of flight; also, the lack of correlation data significantly complicated the precise determination of the remaining four parameters. Thus, the ability to identify safety deficiencies was hampered.
The anomalies noted in the approval process for this FDR installation may be an isolated case. Nevertheless, the TSB believes that the TC approval process for OCs and C of As is not adequate to ensure proper compliance with existing FDR ANO and Engineering and Inspection Manual requirements. That there are still a number of foil-type FDRs being used in Canada is of particular concern. Accident investigation experience indicates that, because of difficulties in maintaining and verifying the operation of foil FDRs, the reliability of these systems is at best uncertain.
Therefore, TSB recommends that:
The Department of Transport validate its approval process for FDRs to ensure that current procedures are adequate to meet the ANO and Engineering and Inspection Manual requirements.
Transportation Safety Recommendation A90-93
Previous responses and assessments
April 1991: Transport Canada’s response to A90-93
Approval process for flight data recorders (FDRs) A90-93
The approval process for flight data recorder installations as contained in the Engineering and Inspection Manual (E & I) Part II, Chapter III, Section 3.9 has been reviewed. The current procedures are considered to be sufficiently detailed and comprehensive to provide adequate guidance to air carriers and Transport Canada officials, to satisfy the Air Navigation Orders (ANO).
Board assessment of Transport Canada’s response to A90-93
Ensuring that a proper flight data recorder (FDR), as specified in ANO II, No.13, is installed on an aircraft is part of TC's approval process for the operation of the aircraft in accordance with the company's Operation Certificate (OC). This should be done using TC Form 26-0046, which includes FDR availability as a check-off item for the TC Regional Air Carrier submission to TC Headquarters; however, this form does not include a specific provision for designating the type of FDR.
Notwithstanding, the TC process used to ensure that this requirement was met is deficient in that the company was unknowingly authorized to operate the occurrence aircraft with a five-parameter foil recorder instead of the specified six-parameter digital recorder. Based on this finding, the TSB is concerned that the TC approval process for FDR installation is inadequate to ensure compliance with existing FDR ANO and E&I manual requirements.
TC reviewed its approval process for FDR installation as contained in the E&I manual and considers that the current procedures are sufficiently detailed and comprehensive to provide adequate guidance to air carriers and TC inspectors to satisfy ANO regulations. It is likely that Transport Canada regards this case as an isolated oversight. TC has not changed its flight data recorder approval process; however, a policy letter on FDR installations will be sent to TC Regions. Although this policy letter addresses FDR data and maintenance plans for Recommendation A90-94, it should also increase awareness of FDR requirements in the Regions and thus improve the effectiveness of the process.
Therefore, the response is assessed as Satisfactory. The staff will review the policy letter when it is issued.
November 1996: Board reassessment of the response to A90-93
Unsatisfactory FDR/CVR installation found on Sandy Lake HS-748 (A94H0023 refers). New TSB Recs on FDRs/CVRs A94-02 - response has been assessed as Satisfactory Intent.
Therefore, the assessment is Satisfactory Intent.
November 1997: Board reassessment of the response to A90-93
A TSB developed event recorder Statement of Requirements (SOR) is currently being debated within the CARAC process. TSB is working with TC R&D section to develop a Flight Recorder Conf. Standard for use by industry and TC. Concern is addressed by A94-02.
Therefore, the assessment is Satisfactory Intent.
Latest response and assessment
January 2004: Board reassessment of the response to A90-93
Using current assessment criteria, proposed action would be assessed as Satisfactory Intent vice Fully Satisfactory. Indications are that TC's internal policies regarding FDR requirements may not have had the desired effect as evidenced by subsequent recommendation A94-02. Due to its similarity, suggest this recommendation be de-activated with any outstanding concerns to be dealt with as per A94-02.
Therefore, the assessment is Satisfactory Intent.
As such, Further Action is Unwarranted on this recommendation, and the status of A90-93 is now Inactive.
April 2014: Board review of A90-93 deficiency file status
The Board requested that A90-93 be reviewed to determine whether the deficiency file status was appropriate. After an initial evaluation, it was determined that the safety deficiency addressed by Recommendations A90-93 and A90-94 is addressed by the more recent Recommendation A94-02.
It is therefore appropriate to follow the progress on flight data recording (FDR) safety issues through Recommendation A94-02. A94-02 was rated Fully Satisfactory on 01 March 2005 and is now Closed.
Therefore, the assessment of A90-93 is changed to Fully Satisfactory.
File status
The TSB will monitor TC’s progress on its planned actions.
This deficiency file is Closed.