Transcript of Hearing 12/12/97 - TWA Flight 800 Investigation

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$Atago Co., Ltd. Salinity Refractometer, Model S-10 Instruction Manual$

133312As testimony this week has shown, dangerousconditions in fuel tanks occur more commonly than had3been believed,and when the tank is heated, the amount456789101112of energy needed to ignite the vapors dropssignificantly.I welcome the FAA’s willingness to takeanother look and re–evaluate the recommendations onfuel/air mixture volatility made by the NTSB one yearago.I also welcome the Boeing Corporation’sexpressed openness to examine additional ways ofdealing with the dangers of fuel tank vapors suggested13by the Safety Board.I hope this hearing has14151617demonstrated the extensive work that has already beendone by the Boeing and the FAA in this investigation.The NTSB has long advocated a two-trackapproach to the fuel tank problem, pointed up by the18crash of TWA 800.This position is derived in part19from the lessons learned over the years.Thirty years2021222324of accident investigation experience has taught us thevalue of not relying on a single approach to resolvinga serious safety problem.We applaud the work that has been done toremove all potential ignition sources for fuel tank25explosions,but as has been stated frequently at thisCAPITAL HILL REPORTING, INC.(202) 466-9500
13341meeting, we can never be sure that all possible2ignition sources can be eliminated.Therefore, the3456789Safety Board strongly believes that additional measuresto stabilize fuel tank vapors are necessary andprudent.The Board certainly recognizes the need toproceed carefully in making changes to systems that ona whole have performed safely and reliably for extendedperiods of time.10Let me say again,the 747 aircraft has a very11safe record,and we have the safest aviation system in12131415this country of the whole world, and that is as aresult of a lot of work that is done –– good work thatis done by the individuals that design the aircraft,manufacture the aircraft, people that maintain the16aircraft,the people that fly the aircraft and the17government regulators that try to oversee those18processes.It is a record all Americans can be proud19Of rand I think that is one of the reasons we see the202122232425dramatic growth in aviation today in our country.We do want to be sure that the fixes that aremade are the right ones and that no new problems areintroduced, but these concerns should not immobilizegovernment and industry and inhibit us from actingvigorously and with dispatch when, as in the case ofCAPITAL HILL REPORTING, INC.(202) 466-9500
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1186BEFORE THENATIONAL TRANSPORTATI
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119112“The reticulate polyurethan
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1193123The Air Force developed this
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1195123QBY MR. ANDERSON:DIRECT EXAM
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1197123decision, and the decision w
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1directions.When the test in the Mo
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1CHAIRMAN HALL:1201I know that goes
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12031234What we will -- are expecti
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12051and then we will charter ARAC,
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120712CHAIRMAN HALL:MR. ANDERSON:Ge
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1WITNESS McSWEENEY:1209I would then
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12111234567several Airworthiness Di
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1213123There are many who have stud
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12151opinion.2WITNESS McSWEENEY:I w
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12171States.There are international
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121912from industry what kind of ti
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1AYou can be a member of the active
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12231reasons,like airline dispatch
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12251 MR. ANDERSON: I would like to
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1looking at inerting,1227looking at
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123will participate.WITNESS THOMAS:
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12CHAIRMAN HALL:specific informatio
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1233123of order here.WITNESS THOMAS
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1235123becomes an option that becom
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1so,in that regard it is very impor
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12electric pumps, or moving the --
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1WITNESS McSWEENEY:1241Well, whethe
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12431234require engineering and som
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124512345MR. SWAIM: Mr. McSweeney,
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124712eliminating.so, the key is, i
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12491will be at the ARAC.2so,we hav
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125112This remains an important con
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1unstable foam wandering around the
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1255123451, again, am very pleased
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12571234reduction must be in the ta
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12591aircraft or a fleet, but money
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12611234concept, and I was also ver
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126312345FURTHER DIRECT EXAMINATION
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1265123passed to an engineering soc
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12671cancellations do not affect yo
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12691The next thing, Mr. McSweeney,
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127212effort and what is referred t
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127412history that is most signific
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127612said and written about the pr
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1system was the right system to use
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12801combat and heard the maintenan
Page 97 and 98: 12821MR. BALL:It is significantly c
Page 99 and 100: 128412345buying the C-130 J. It is
Page 101 and 102: 12861234567aircraft that have been
Page 103 and 104: 12881MR. STREETER:In the list you s
Page 105 and 106: 1290123obviously as the tank emptie
Page 107 and 108: 129212We discussed a little bit on
Page 109 and 110: 129412345and create the service bul
Page 111 and 112: 12961CHAIRMAN HALL: Well, thank you
Page 113 and 114: 1WITNESS TYSON:I am going to try to
Page 115 and 116: 13001234remediational technology in
Page 117 and 118: 130212and the FAA, they are working
Page 119 and 120: 130412middle of the summer and it i
Page 121 and 122: 13061MR. BOUSHIE:Crane has no quest
Page 123 and 124: 1308123is in order to respond to th
Page 125 and 126: 13101DR. ELLINGSTAD:Has any of that
Page 127 and 128: 1Jet-A from LAX,1312and we have don
Page 129 and 130: 13141Mr. Thomas, is there anything
Page 131 and 132: 1316123causing me to do too many co
Page 133 and 134: 1effect,1318it is almost to the poi
Page 135 and 136: 1320123CHAIRMAN HALL: So, in other
Page 137 and 138: 1322123looking at the oxidizer and
Page 139 and 140: 13241234tell them over and over aga
Page 141 and 142: 132612quickly as we can as we run u
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Page 145 and 146: 13301opinion.We have thoroughly enj
Page 147: 13321234this opportunity to thank t
Page 151 and 152: 1336123456received within the speci
Page 153: 1338123again thank C-Span for that
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Transcript of Hearing 12/12/97 - TWA Flight 800 Investigation

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