Wreckage Release

When you finish handling the wreckage, put pieces into boxes, marked and simply organized (e.g., engine, flight controls, cockpit...) in the event an endorser requests reexamination or further detail. Make it occupy minimum space and leave it securely stored until it is later released for disposal. Flight equipment worn by a deceased airman is not to be stored with wreckage or released as personal effects, but should be shipped to the cognizant field activity (NAWCAD Patuxent River) for examination and disposal; no EI report will follow, unless the AMB asks for one.

If an investigator from Naval Safety Center attended, COMNAVSAFECEN will release the wreckage by message to the AMB Senior Member.

Once the Senior Member is confident that endorsers will not need the wreckage or other real evidence for concurrent investigations, it should be released to the reporting custodian (squadron CO).

This puts the aircraft and its records under OPNAVINST 4790.2_ jurisdiction. Maintenance administration will request disposition instructions from NAVICP Code 0343.14 (Anthony Mazzone, 215-697-2882 DSN: 442 email: anthony.mazzone@navy.mil) for parts reclamation, disposal of wreckage, and striking the bureau number.

In most cases the Senior Member's release message will be the same as COMNAVSAFECEN's, just change the From/To lines. But be sure to inform any agency (NADEP, laboratory) that have had a change in custody of exhibits since COMNAVSAFECEN's release.

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