Police Investigative Response Police Investigative Response to Aviation Related Fatalities.to Aviation Related Fatalities.

- His Honour, Magistrate Carl Milovanovich, His Honour, Magistrate Carl Milovanovich, Deputy State Coroner, NSW. Deputy State Coroner, NSW.

- Detective Inspector John Hurley, NSW Detective Inspector John Hurley, NSW Police Force, Aviation Support Branch.Police Force, Aviation Support Branch.

JAMIE JENKINSJAMIE JENKINS

22 Year old Commercial Pilot.22 Year old Commercial Pilot. Piloting a Cessna 210 Single Engine Piloting a Cessna 210 Single Engine

Aircraft. Single occupant of aircraft.Aircraft. Single occupant of aircraft. Impacted with the ground near Jerilderie, Impacted with the ground near Jerilderie,

NSW on 26 August 1997.NSW on 26 August 1997.

The Crash site…The Crash site…

Site with labelled componentsSite with labelled components……

First Inquest at Jerilderie 1998.First Inquest at Jerilderie 1998.

Presided over by Registrar / Coroner.Presided over by Registrar / Coroner. Shortcomings of the first inquest.Shortcomings of the first inquest.

Scene confronting initial attending Scene confronting initial attending PolicePolice…… ……

Second Inquest held at Wagga Second Inquest held at Wagga Wagga and Newcastle Coroners Wagga and Newcastle Coroners

Court – 2005Court – 2005..

Held following complete re-investigation by Held following complete re-investigation by same Police investigator at the direction of same Police investigator at the direction of the Deputy State Coroner.the Deputy State Coroner.

Presided over by Deputy State Coroner.Presided over by Deputy State Coroner. Recommendations arising from second Recommendations arising from second

inquest…… inquest……

NSW Police Investigative Response NSW Police Investigative Response into Aviation Related Fatalities.into Aviation Related Fatalities.

Presentation by Detective Inspector John Presentation by Detective Inspector John Hurley.Hurley.

NSW Police Force.NSW Police Force. Aviation Support Branch.Aviation Support Branch.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau Australian Transport Safety Bureau ((ATSBATSB))

Attend Aircraft accidents involving Attend Aircraft accidents involving Commercially funded (Chartered) Operations Commercially funded (Chartered) Operations or as directed by Federal Government.or as directed by Federal Government.

Don’t attend fatalities involving Parachutists, Don’t attend fatalities involving Parachutists, Gliders, Recreational Aircraft, Balloons, Para-Gliders, Recreational Aircraft, Balloons, Para-gliders, Hang-gliders.gliders, Hang-gliders.

Don’t apportion blame or responsibility. Don’t apportion blame or responsibility. Focussed towards safety outcomes. Don’t Focussed towards safety outcomes. Don’t become involved in criminality issues. become involved in criminality issues.

Police Investigation…….Police Investigation…….

Must Satisfy Coronial requirements (Identity, Date, Place, Must Satisfy Coronial requirements (Identity, Date, Place, Manner and Cause of death )Manner and Cause of death )

Must consider the aspect of criminality as part of Must consider the aspect of criminality as part of investigative process.investigative process.

If ATSB involved, Police can utilise the ATSB investigative If ATSB involved, Police can utilise the ATSB investigative outcomes as part of Police brief of evidence.outcomes as part of Police brief of evidence.

Have to deal with complexities of investigation Have to deal with complexities of investigation (engineering, aeronautical and systems issues) if no ATSB (engineering, aeronautical and systems issues) if no ATSB involvement. involvement.

Utilises external and internal expertise as part of Utilises external and internal expertise as part of investigative process and presentation at Inquest.investigative process and presentation at Inquest.

Police Investigation……Police Investigation……

Australasian Coroners continually highlight Australasian Coroners continually highlight deficiencies in the standard of investigation deficiencies in the standard of investigation of aviation related fatalities by State Police. of aviation related fatalities by State Police.

NSW Police are the only agency addressing NSW Police are the only agency addressing this issue and have established a reputation this issue and have established a reputation as being a lead agency in this regard.as being a lead agency in this regard.

To date…..To date…..

Since August 2006 – 24 Aviation related Incidents Since August 2006 – 24 Aviation related Incidents with a total of 36 fatalities.with a total of 36 fatalities.

Incidents span across North, South, South West Incidents span across North, South, South West and Western Police Regions of NSW and involve and Western Police Regions of NSW and involve investigations conducted within a total of 15 NSW investigations conducted within a total of 15 NSW Police Local Area Commands.Police Local Area Commands.

Since 2005, all VH registered aircraft fatalities are Since 2005, all VH registered aircraft fatalities are referred to Office of the NSW State Coroner. referred to Office of the NSW State Coroner.

Others dealt with by local Coroner.Others dealt with by local Coroner.

VH-ZVT- Stemme Glider at Camden VH-ZVT- Stemme Glider at Camden on 27 August 2006.on 27 August 2006.

Stemme Glider. High profile deceased. Aircraft Stemme Glider. High profile deceased. Aircraft formerly owned by Steve Fossett.formerly owned by Steve Fossett.

Investigations nearing completion. Significant Investigations nearing completion. Significant international interest and input.international interest and input.

OHS ramifications for NSW Police Force. OHS ramifications for NSW Police Force. Shut down Motor Vehicle Examination Unit for 2 Shut down Motor Vehicle Examination Unit for 2

days due to airborne carbon composite materials. days due to airborne carbon composite materials. Initially Non- ATSB attendance (due to Glider) Initially Non- ATSB attendance (due to Glider)

however through a spirit of co-operation ATSB are however through a spirit of co-operation ATSB are assisting the NSW Police Force investigation.assisting the NSW Police Force investigation.

VH-AKY – Strikemaster Jet at VH-AKY – Strikemaster Jet at Bathurst on 05 October 2006 – 2 Bathurst on 05 October 2006 – 2

Deceased.Deceased. State Forest – Fire out of control for 4 days. School and State Forest – Fire out of control for 4 days. School and

resident evacuation. resident evacuation. OHS issues – Major Bush Fire, no radio communications in OHS issues – Major Bush Fire, no radio communications in

area, very difficult site with limited access and confirmed area, very difficult site with limited access and confirmed Radiation Hazard from aircraft components.Radiation Hazard from aircraft components.

Complex ongoing investigation. Significant ATSB and NSW Complex ongoing investigation. Significant ATSB and NSW Police Force involvement. CASA involved. International Police Force involvement. CASA involved. International Interest with Warbird Community involvement. Interest with Warbird Community involvement.

External and internal expertise and assistance required as External and internal expertise and assistance required as part of investigative process.part of investigative process.

INQUESTS.INQUESTS. Mudgee – 2 deceased from Powerline strike by helicopter used in local Mudgee – 2 deceased from Powerline strike by helicopter used in local

Government locust eradication program. ATSB involvement. Government locust eradication program. ATSB involvement.

Initial investigation referred by the Deputy State Coroner for review. Initial investigation referred by the Deputy State Coroner for review.

Complex investigation which is currently Part heard. Significant Complex investigation which is currently Part heard. Significant interest at NSW State Government level. Senior Legal Representation interest at NSW State Government level. Senior Legal Representation on behalf of Public Service Association, Country Energy, DOTARS, on behalf of Public Service Association, Country Energy, DOTARS, ATSB and deceased.ATSB and deceased.

Advocacy provided by Senior NSW Police Force Prosecutor Senior Advocacy provided by Senior NSW Police Force Prosecutor Senior Sergeant Ross Lund. NSW Police Force Legal Services Branch.Sergeant Ross Lund. NSW Police Force Legal Services Branch.

Inquests……..Inquests……..

ATSB investigator providing expert evidence.ATSB investigator providing expert evidence. Also expert evidence given by NSW Police Force Also expert evidence given by NSW Police Force

Aviation Support Branch pilot ( Sergeant Rob Aviation Support Branch pilot ( Sergeant Rob Coppock ). Coppock ).

Review and executive summary of entire Review and executive summary of entire investigation by Detective Inspector John Hurley.investigation by Detective Inspector John Hurley.

Investigation utilised Australian Army Aviation Investigation utilised Australian Army Aviation expertise in unprecedented format as part of expertise in unprecedented format as part of evidence presented to Coroner.evidence presented to Coroner.

INQUESTS…….INQUESTS…….

Parkes – 3 dead from helicopter striking powerline Parkes – 3 dead from helicopter striking powerline during Local Government weed eradication during Local Government weed eradication program. ATSB involvement.program. ATSB involvement.

Initial investigation referred for review.Initial investigation referred for review. Significant State Government interest. Outcomes Significant State Government interest. Outcomes

will influence recommendations from Mudgee will influence recommendations from Mudgee inquest. inquest.

Complex investigation beyond normal responsive Complex investigation beyond normal responsive scope of LAC due to aviation related issues.scope of LAC due to aviation related issues.

GENERAL INVESTIGATIVE GENERAL INVESTIGATIVE ISSUES.ISSUES.

High level networking established with government High level networking established with government agencies. i.e. ATSB, CASA, Airservices, ADF agencies. i.e. ATSB, CASA, Airservices, ADF ( Brigadier General – LTCOL ).( Brigadier General – LTCOL ).

Good liaison with senior investigators within Good liaison with senior investigators within external agencies and interested parties. i.e GFA, external agencies and interested parties. i.e GFA, HGFA, PFA, RAA, ADF.HGFA, PFA, RAA, ADF.

Direct dealing with Aircraft Manufacturers and Direct dealing with Aircraft Manufacturers and service providers from an evidentiary standpoint.service providers from an evidentiary standpoint.

Investigative capability is gaining international Investigative capability is gaining international recognition. (Prof. Graeme Braithwaite..) recognition. (Prof. Graeme Braithwaite..)

General Issues.General Issues.

Presentation to NSW Police Force Senior Presentation to NSW Police Force Senior Incident Emergency Management Course. Incident Emergency Management Course. (Superintendent level ) Ongoing as part of (Superintendent level ) Ongoing as part of course curriculum.course curriculum.

Presentation at Tri-State (SAPOL, QPOL, Presentation at Tri-State (SAPOL, QPOL, NSWPOL) Conferences. NSWPOL) Conferences.

Why does this model work…..Why does this model work….. Combination of extensive (internal) investigation and aviation Combination of extensive (internal) investigation and aviation

expertise. expertise. Investigative response is immersed in aviation environment.Investigative response is immersed in aviation environment. Immediate access to expertise & experience.Immediate access to expertise & experience. Access to means of immediate site response. ( ASB internal co-Access to means of immediate site response. ( ASB internal co-

ordination ….helicopters etc).ordination ….helicopters etc). Enhancement of site integrity and OHS issues for attending Police.Enhancement of site integrity and OHS issues for attending Police. Consolidation of knowledge base.Consolidation of knowledge base. Development of on-going education for Police and succession planning Development of on-going education for Police and succession planning

for investigative response into aviation related fatalities. for investigative response into aviation related fatalities. Aviation Support Branch benefits – Flying Wire aware, access to Aviation Support Branch benefits – Flying Wire aware, access to

resourcing, risk management and safety benefits.resourcing, risk management and safety benefits.

Investigative Services…Investigative Services…

Management / Oversight of investigations into all Management / Oversight of investigations into all aviation related fatalities occurring within State of aviation related fatalities occurring within State of NSW.NSW.

Direction / consultancy for NSW Police Force Direction / consultancy for NSW Police Force Local Area Command investigators. Local Area Command investigators.

Provision of key advice with regard to formulation Provision of key advice with regard to formulation and implementation of investigative response into and implementation of investigative response into aviation related fatalities.aviation related fatalities.

Provision of specialist aviation related investigative Provision of specialist aviation related investigative consultancy. (Attendance at Air Crash consultancy. (Attendance at Air Crash Investigation Course as provided through ATSB)Investigation Course as provided through ATSB)

Investigation Services…..Investigation Services…..

Crash site attendance – Aerial and ground Crash site attendance – Aerial and ground analysis of wreckage and component dispersal.analysis of wreckage and component dispersal.

Site integrity. Usually within 24 to 48hrs depending Site integrity. Usually within 24 to 48hrs depending on location…..on location…..

Aerial photography – Media pac (Digital) recording Aerial photography – Media pac (Digital) recording of site.of site.

Flight path analysis, profiling, reconstruction and Flight path analysis, profiling, reconstruction and interpretation.interpretation.

Specialist external agency liaison….ATSB, RAA, Specialist external agency liaison….ATSB, RAA, HGFA, PFA, ADFHGFA, PFA, ADF

Investigation Services….Investigation Services….

Identification and use of appropriate expert Identification and use of appropriate expert witnesses in accident analysis process.witnesses in accident analysis process.

Point of liaison for Coroner…Point of liaison for Coroner… Provision of specialist advice for aviation related Provision of specialist advice for aviation related

interview points and evidentiary requirements.interview points and evidentiary requirements. Post accident investigation – Aircraft servicing, Post accident investigation – Aircraft servicing,

pilot and Air Services records. Nav data, charts pilot and Air Services records. Nav data, charts and logs relevant to incident and location.and logs relevant to incident and location.

Weather and flight planning interpretation.Weather and flight planning interpretation.

Investigation Services….Investigation Services….

Assistance with complex statements.Assistance with complex statements. Provision of expert evidence, opinion and Provision of expert evidence, opinion and

statement at Coroner’s Court.statement at Coroner’s Court. Quality review of brief of evidence prior to Quality review of brief of evidence prior to

progression to Coronial determination.progression to Coronial determination. Provision of executive summary for Provision of executive summary for

Coroner.Coroner. Attendance at inquests.Attendance at inquests.

QUESTIONS????QUESTIONS????