Extended Campus

Department of Distance Learning

ASCI 608 Aviation/Aerospace Accident Investigation and Safety Systems

Credit Hours: 3

Course Syllabus

Contents

Course Materials

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Required Materials:

- Wood & Sweginnis, 2006, Aircraft Accident Investigation, 2e, Endeavor Books. 
- Strauch, Barry, 2004, Investigating Human Error: Incidents, Accidents and Complex Systems, Ashgate Publishing.

Suggested Supplemental Material:

1. Klaus-Martin Goeters (Editor), Aviation Psychology: Practice and Research, Ashgate Publishing (August 15, 2004).  ISBN: 0754640175
2. Reason, J. T., Managing the Risks of Organizational Accidents, Ashgate Publishing (December 1, 1997).  ISBN: 1840141050
3. Caldwell, J.A., and Caldwell, J.L., Fatigue in Aviation, Ashgate Publishing (2003). ISBN: 0 7546 3300 4
4. Harris, D, and Muir, H., Human Factors and Aerospace Safety: An International Journal, Ashgate Publishing (multiple volume dates).
5. Strauch, B., Investigating Human Error: Incidents, Accidents, and Complex Systems, Ashgate Publishing (February 2004).  ISBN: 0 7546 4122 8 Paperback or 1 84014 931 0 Hardback
6. Wood, R. H., Aviation Safety Programs, Jeppesen Sanderson; 2nd edition (June 1, 1997).  ISBN: 088487236X

-ERAU graduate research papers are generally prepared in American Psychological Association (APA) format, as supplemented by the Embry-Riddle Guide for the Graduate Capstone Project. Therefore, these sources are recommended additions to graduate courses:
-American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.) -ERAU Guide to the Graduate Capstone Project, 6th edition, ERAU Press These publications are required for ASCI/MGMT 605.

NOTE ON LIBRARY USE: The Jack R. Hunt Library, located on the Daytona Beach Campus is one of the most complete collections of aviation related material and is the primary library for all Extended Campus students. In addition to books, complete (full text) periodical articles, government reports, industry statistics, and other useful information can be found. The library also provides Web links to aviation, aerospace, and business resources.

General Library Information and Support: Web: http://amelia.db.erau.edu

Extended Campus Library Services
Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Eastern Time (voice mail after hours)
1-800-678-9428 or 386-226-6947 outside the US
eclib@erau.edu

Reference Services
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Eastern Time (voice mail after hours)
1-800-678-9428 / 386-226-7656 outside the US
eclib@erau.edu

Course Description

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A critical analysis of selected aircraft accidents and an evaluation of accident causal factors. Particular emphasis is placed on the study of human factors connected with flight and support crew activities in aviation operations. Identification and implementation of accident prevention measures are stressed as integral parts of the development of a complete safety program.

Course Goals

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This course is a requirement for the Master of Aeronautical Science (MAS) degree program with an Aviation/Aerospace Operations specialization. This course is designed to ensure that the student has a comprehension of the need for safety programs, the vital role management plays in safety, the relationship of human factors in mishaps, awareness that the risk of mishaps can be lowered via system safety, and familiarity with the accident investigative process and evaluation of casual factors.

Performance Objectives

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1. Describe and differentiate the roles and responsibilities of the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, Military Agencies, and others for the conduct of aircraft accident investigations.
2. Explain the methods of collecting and analyzing the safety statistics of the aviation/aerospace industry.
3. Discuss the impact legislation, regulation, and safety programs have on aviation industry accidents.
4. Describe and discuss problems associated with conducting a crash site investigation.
5. Identify and discuss the methods, techniques and procedures involved in aircraft accident investigation.
6. Compare and contrast the human, machine, and environmental factors involved in the aircraft accident.
7. Discuss the roles and responsibilities that management has for the implementation of safety programs and their concurrent responsibility for conducting their organizational operations in the most ethical manner.
8. Identify and discuss current aviation safety issues of the day.
9. Prepare a graduate level quality term paper concerning a significant aviation safety topic.

Grading

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This grading criteria is suggested, but the faculty member may exercise academic freedom and adjust or change this criteria prior to the start of the term.

Grade Scale 100 - 90 A 89 - 80 B 79 - 70 C 69 - 0 F

Assignment Weight Midterm  30% Final 30% Course Paper 20% Classroom Participation 20% Total 100%

Class Procedure:

The student is held responsible for the material presented in the textbooks per topic assignments. Each student will prepare and discuss case studies of selected aircraft accidents as well as write a course paper. In addition you will be exposed to a variety of appropriate literature in addition to textbooks and NTSB aircraft accident reports. Professional journals, magazines, and dailies will be used to maintain currency in the field.


Examinations: 

1. Mid-Term Examinations:
a. A take home open book exam-see course schedule.
b. A proctored closed book exam-schedule with Center staff or designated proctor.

2. Comprehensive Final Examination:
a. A proctored final exam will be scheduled for week fourteen of class.

Case Studies:
There are three required case studies for the course. Written case studies are due in Sessions 3, 4, and 6 and will be discussed in Sessions 8, 9, 10, and 11.

The case studies are intended to help you gain knowledge in the following areas:

1. Aircraft accident report requirements and writing.
2. Accident investigation requirements and the problems associated with an investigation.
3. Critical thought involving aviation safety issues.

Each case study should address the following questions:

1. What happened to cause the accident?
2. Why did the accident happen?
3. What can be done to prevent this type of accident?
4. A discussion of the deficiencies (political, technical, or investigative) of the accident investigation report.
5. The aviation safety issues associated with the accident.
Case studies should be no more than four pages long. The first and second page should review what happened and why the accident happened. The third and fourth pages should address recommendations to prevent such accidents from happening and the weaknesses of the accident report. These weaknesses may result from the lack/loss of evidence, lack of investigation technology, political constraints, or just a poor investigation. Aviation safety issues should also be discussed.

General Rules and Tips:

1. Always write in third person; never first person.
2. Do not copy an Aviation Accident Report verbatim: Summarize.
3. Do not include extraneous material in your case study.
3. If you quote the works or ideas of another, you must give appropriate credit.
Case Study Selection:  
All written case studies will be selected from accidents discussed in the text "Aircraft Accident Analysis". The accidents discussed in the book have been grouped into human, aircraft, weather, or air traffic control factor type accidents. Three written reports will be selected from three of the four categories of accidents.

Case Study #1: A human factor case study selected from chapters 3 or 7 of the Aircraft Accident Analysis text and due in the 3rd Session.

Case Study #2: A weather or Air Traffic Control factor case study selected from chapters 2, 12, 9, or 11 of the Aircraft Accident Analysis text and is due in the 4th
Session.

Case Study #3: An aircraft factor case study selected from chapters 1 or 4 of the Aircraft
Accident Analysis text and is due in the 6th Session.

Course Paper:

One of the requirements for the successful completion of this graduate course is a course paper written on an aviation safety issue.

Specific paper requirements are as follows:

1. Submission of a one-page abstract, listing the title of your paper and a short discussion of the aviation safety issue selected. The one page abstract is due and must be approved prior to the submission of the course paper.
2. The length of the body of the paper will be determined by the amount of material necessary to adequately cover the subject. The paper must be a minimum of ten pages and a maximum of twelve pages not including the abstract and references.

3. Both paper and outline must be type written or computer generated.

4. Use the "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association" as the guide for the construction and referencing of the course paper.

Course Policies

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This course is offered online, over the Internet. Students are expected to devote a minimum of five hours per class week logged on to the online course management system or other appropriate online activities, including sending/receiving e-mail and navigating and conducting research over the World Wide Web--the same amount of time you would spend in the physical classroom.

NOTE ON LATE WORK: Late work should be the exception and not the rule. Therefore, the following applies to ALL late work, unless prior arrangements have been made with and approved by the instructor: All late work will be downgraded at the discretion of the instructor, up to 10 points for every day it is late. Late work may not be accepted if it is more than 5 days late. Unless all required work is submitted, the student could receive a failing grade for the course.

Because this is an online course designed to obtain feedback on assignments to you directly via the Internet, you must make prior arrangements with the instructor before submitting a paper via the postal service. If you ever have problems posting your assignments, send the instructor a private e-mail or send an e-mail to the instructor's personal e-mail account, and we will try to get the problem solved.

Students should use the private mail option only for private messages to the instructor that they do not want other students to view.  Instructors may specify the use of personal e-mail addresses for these messages, in lieu of their ERAU e-mail addresses.

All students must participate in Discussion Forum discussions. Conventions of "on-line etiquette," which include courtesy to all users, will be observed. Students may get assistance with computer-related problems through the instructor.

NOTE: It is highly recommended that students keep electronic copies of all materials submitted in the Discussion Forum, via e-mail or snail mail, until after the end of the term. When posting responses in the Discussion Forum, please confirm that the responses have actually been posted after you submit them.

Academic Honesty:
Embry-Riddle policies are in effect. Academic honesty is required of all members of a learning community. Hence, the University will not tolerate cheating or plagiarism on tests, examinations, papers, or other course assignments. Students who engage in such dishonesty may be given failing grades or expelled from the University.

Plagiarism -- the appropriation of imitation of the language or ideas of another person and presenting them as one's original work -- sometimes occurs through carelessness or ignorance. If you are uncertain about proper documentation of sources, please e-mail me. If you quote or paraphrase someone else's work you must give the source credit through a footnote. Ignorance is no excuse.

Course Schedule

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last updated and modified by Patrick Herlehy
on 07/03/2006