SAFETY REGULATION GROUP

AIRWORTHINESS
COMMUNICATION


2010/10
Applicability: Operators, Maintenance Organisations, and Continuing
Airworthiness Management Organisations

TITLE: PRESERVATION OF FLIGHT DATA RECORDINGS (CVR & FDR)

1 Introduction

1.1 This AIRCOM has been published in response to AAIB safety recommendation
2010-012. The recommendation concerns an incident where the investigation
was hampered by unintentional overwriting of the cockpit voice recording, which
erased information necessary to assist the investigation.

2 Background

2.1 The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is designed to record audio information
when the electrical power is selected on the aircraft, and is designed to
preserve either 30 minutes or 2 hours of audio information (depending on type).
In the particular reported incident, because the system was not isolated to
preserve the recording, the CVR continued to function during the subsequent
maintenance activities following the event and therefore all the audio
information relating to the event was lost.

3 Issue

3.1 Evidence from other previous incidents identified that even where the Flight
Crew had isolated electrical power to the CVR, subsequent maintenance or
other activity may have re-instated the power supply resulting in the
unintentional loss of the recording.

3.2 Preservation of flight recorder information (CVR & FDR) is covered by the
following regulations:

a) ICAO Annex 6 Part I, 11.6

An operator shall ensure, to the extent possible, in the event an
aeroplane becomes involved in an accident or incident, the preservation
of all related flight recorder records and, if necessary, the associated
flight recorders, and their retention in safe custody pending their
disposition as determined in accordance with annex 13.

b) EU-OPS 1.160(a) 1&2

Following an accident, the operator of an aeroplane on which a flight
recorder is carried shall, to the extent possible, preserve the original
recorded data pertaining to that accident, as retained by the recorder for
24 August 2010 1 of 2
a period of 60 days unless otherwise directed by the investigating
authority.

Unless prior permission has been granted by the Authority, following an
incident that is subject to mandatory reporting, the operator of an
aeroplane on which a flight recorder is carried shall, to the extent
possible, preserve the original recorded data pertaining to that incident,
as retained by the recorder for a period of 60 days unless otherwise
directed by the investigation authority.

4 Recommendation

4.1 Operators and continuing airworthiness management organisations should
ensure that robust procedures are in place and prescribed in the relevant
Operations Manuals and Expositions to ensure that CVR/FDR recordings that
may assist in the investigation of an accident or incident are appropriately
preserved. This should include raising awareness of Flight Crew and
Maintenance staff to minimise the possibility of loss of any recorded data on
both the CVR and FDR.

4.2 When appropriate, the relevant circuit breakers should be pulled and collared/
tagged and an entry made in the aircraft technical log to make clear to any
airline personnel that an investigation is progressing. Furthermore, confirmation
from the investigating authority/operator is required to be obtained before
systems are reactivated and power is restored.

4.3 Operators who contract their maintenance activities or ground handling to a
third party should ensure that the contracted organisation is made aware of all
their relevant procedures.

5 Queries

5.1 Any queries as a result of this AIRCOM should be addressed to Airworthiness
Strategy and Policy Department at the following e-mail address:
Requirements@caa.co.uk

Padhraic Kelleher
Head of Airworthiness

Date 24 August 2010


Recipients of new AIRCOMs are asked to ensure that these are copied to their 'in
house' or contracted organisations, to relevant outside contractors, and to all
members of their staff who could have an interest in the information or who need to
take appropriate action in response to this Communication.


Review Survey Department August 2011
24 August 2010 2 of 2