NTSB - Pinnacle Airlines Flight 3701

Pinnacle Airlines (d.b.a. Northwest Airlink) Flight 3701
Jefferson City, Missouri
October 14, 2004
DCA05MA003

Public Hearing
June 13-15, 2005

Agenda

Opening Statement by the Chairman, Board of Inquiry

Introduction of the Board of Inquiry and Technical Panel

Board of Inquiry:

Member Deborah A. P. Hersman - (Chairman, Board of Inquiry)
Thomas Haueter - Deputy Director, Office of Aviation Safety
John DeLisi - Chief, Major Investigations Division, Office of Aviation Safety
Dr. Vernon Ellingstad - Director, Office of Research and Engineering

Hearing Officer:

William English - Major Investigations Division, Office of Aviation Safety

Technical Panel:

Lorenda Ward - Investigator In Charge, Office of Aviation Safety
Dave Kirchgessner - Operational Factors, Office of Aviation Safety
Carol Horgan - Powerplants, Office of Aviation Safety
Dr. Evan Byrne - Human Factors, Office of Aviation Safety
Dr. Daniel Bower - Aircraft Performance, Office of Research and Engineering
Bob Swaim - Systems, Office of Aviation Safety
Dana Schulze - System Safety, Office of Aviation Safety
Joe Jackson - Accredited Representative, Transportation Safety Board of Canada

Public Information Officer:

Mr. Terry Williams - Public Affairs Specialist, Office of Public Affairs

Introduction of the Parties to the Hearing:

Federal Aviation Administration
Pinnacle Airlines
Bombardier Aerospace
General Electric Engines
Honeywell
Air Line Pilots Association

Observers to the Hearing:

Transport Canada

Issues:

Aircraft and Engine Certification
Operator and FAA Oversight of Flight Operations and Crew Training

Introduction of Exhibits by Hearing Officer
Selected exhibit items are available online; see Docket Table of Contents for more information.

Opening Speech by the Investigator in Charge
Text: HTML
Presentation: [ PDF | PPT ]

Swearing-In and Testimony of Witnesses:

WITNESSES #1, #2, #3	Ali Khalili Manager, Technical Group Organization Engineering and Product Development Bombardier Aerospace Captain Pierre Francoeur Deputy Director Standards Bombardier Aerospace Training Center Clint Tanner Senior Advisor, Engineering Flight Sciences Bombardier Aerospace
Issues:	Airplane service ceiling, operating ceiling High altitude aspects Dual engine flame-out data during certification and development flight test Pilot training high altitude operations Pilot training approach to stall, full stalls, and recovery techniques Dual engine failure checklist
Questioned by:	Bower, Kirchgessner

WITNESS #4:	Captain Thomas Palmer Former CRJ Program Manager Pinnacle Airlines
Issues:	CRJ ground/sim training Pilot Training for high altitude operations Emergency procedures training Non-revenue operations General stall and stall awareness training Dual engine failure procedures and training Flight deck duty procedures Changes after accident Company oversight of pilots
Questioned by:	Kirchgessner, Byrne

WITNESS #5:	Capt. Terry Mefford Chief Pilot Pinnacle Airlines
Issues:	Company oversight of pilots Pilot standardization and professionalism Non-revenue operations Adequacy of airplane/CRM training Unsatisfactory performance during training or line operations Disciplinary procedures Pilot communications with ATC Interface with FAA
Questioned by:	Kirchgessner, Byrne

WITNESS #6 and #7:	Jack Alford Technical Resources Leader, Avionics Bombardier Aerospace Clint Tanner Senior Advisor, Engineering Flight Sciences Bombardier Aerospace
Issues:	Pnuematic Control Stall Protection System (SPS) Accident Stall Data
Questioned by:	Swaim, Bower

WITNESS #8:	Greg Browning Design Approval Designee, Propulsion Systems Bombardier Aerospace
Issues:	Air restarts Bombardier 'core lock' history CRJ and 'core lock' Flight Test Procedure changes to address 'core lock' Flight Test Procedure data - occurrence rates APU and 21K limitation IDG disconnect Discrepancy between checklist speeds
Questioned by:	Horgan, Swaim

WITNESS #9:	Edward "Ed" Orear Former CF34-3 Program Manager, Manager Small Commercial & Mature Engines Engineering GE Transportation
Issues:	Gas turbine engine design and 'core lock' Start system torque balance and 'core lock' 'Core lock' as a common cause condition C34 modifications to date that addressed 'core lock' Overhaul vs. production seal clearances Unscreened spare engines
Questioned by:	Horgan

WITNESSES #10, #11, #12	Peter White Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Standards Staff Federal Aviation Administration Robert Grant Propulsion Engineer, Engine and Propeller Directorate Federal Aviation Administration Jim Delisio Aerospace Engineer, Airframe and Propulsion Branch, NY ACO Federal Aviation Administration
Issues:	Engine certification and 'core lock' Spares/overhauled engines and 'core lock' Aircraft certification and restart envelope Dual in-flight engine shut downs APU and 21K limitation IDG disconnect
Questioned by:	Horgan, Swaim

WITNESS #13:	Keith Ayre Chief Pneumatic Engineer Bombardier Aerospace
Issues:	Pneumatic system and modeling APU use and limits Cabin altitude pressure for accident airplane
Questioned by:	Swaim

WITNESS #14:	Edgar "Ed" Fell Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Compliance Pinnacle Airlines
Issues:	Safety and reporting systems/internal audit Company oversight Corporate Culture Relationship with FAA FOQA
Questioned by:	Byrne, Kirchgessner

WITNESS #15:	Bob Cowell Operations Supervisor, Memphis Flight Standards District Office Federal Aviation Administration
Issues:	Oversight of operator/POI Non-revenue Operations Relationship with Pinnacle management POI oversight of pilot training Special Inspection FARS on cockpit procedures
Questioned by:	Kirchgessner, Byrne

Closing Statement by the Chairman, Board of Inquiry

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