The following amendment to the CRM section will be incorporated in that amendment.

CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Airborne geophysical survey operations are typically conducted in challenging environments remote from the direct support infrastructure and resources of the operator’s home base. The temporary nature of field bases and the relatively small teams assigned to a survey underscores the vital safety role for every person assigned to the survey project and the need for a team approach to ensure safety is maintained. The implementation of Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles by aircrew has been recognised for many years as an essential element of the safety equation and increasingly it is being applied to maintenance and other ground activities. The use of CRM principles by all crew members on a survey project is an effective means to engage everyone in maintaining the safety of the operation.
Operators provide Crew Resource Management training for all crew members assigned to survey operations including: geophysicists; pilots; equipment operators; maintenance engineers; field technicians and field support staff at intervals not exceeding two years.

Chile

Piper PA-31 CC-CFK

Summary

Information updated September 6, 2006

The Piper Turbo Navaho belonging to the LASSA company of Santiago (Linea de Aeroservicios S.A.) crashed into a hillside about 10 kilometers from Cuesta Pajonales at an altitude of 1,800 meters apparently while pre-positioning for a geophysical survey flight. According to local media reports, witnesses report that the aircraft made several turns and emitted smoke before striking the hillside nose first, falling some 100 meters and exploding. Two fatalities occurred, with the badly charred bodies of the pilot and a geologist passenger being recovered the next day.

October 20, 2005

Namibia
Cessna 210, V5-AAG

Summary

Information updated November 18, 2005

The Westair Wings aircraft based at Eros Airport , Namibia was contracted by GPX Surveys Namibia to conduct a survey for the Geological Survey of Namibia. The aircraft with a senior survey plus a second survey pilot was en route to the survey area when it crashed killing both pilots.

May 5, 2004

Vallecillos, Mexico
Britten-Norman BN-2B-27, XC-FOE

Summary

Information updated November 18, 2005

The aircraft operated by La Gerencia de Geofisica, Mexico while on a survey over the Sierra del Rosario mountain range flew into the side of a mountain at approximately 2000 meters ASL. Both occupants of the aircraft, the pilot and operator, were killed on impact.

April 20, 2004

Nampula, Mozambique
Cessna C404 ZS-NVD

Summary

Information updated July 13, 2004

A Fugro Airborne Surveys Cessna C404 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Nampula airport, Mozambique, on April 20, 2004. Both occupants of the aircraft, the pilot and operator, were killed on impact. The cause of the accident has not been identified. The preliminary findings to date indicate that no power plant, fuel system, electrical system defects have been discovered and that the fuel contained no contaminates.

These are preliminary findings that could change with the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Brazil
BN Islander

Summary

(Information updated January 16) A Fugro Airborne Surveys (Lasa-Geomag) Islander aircraft crashed in Brazil on Thursday, January 11, 2001. The three occupants, two pilots and an equipment operator, were killed in the crash. The aircraft departed at approximately 2:00 p.m. local time, on the second flight of the day, and it appears that it crashed and burnt just after crossing the crest of a ridge within 30 minutes of departure on the first line of the survey. The accident occurred at an elevation of approximately 4500 feet. The weather is believed to have been clear at the time of the accident. No ELT signal was received from the aircraft. The aircraft was found as a result of eyewitnesses seeing the low flying aircraft and smoke from the crash site. A ground party reached the accident site on Friday, January 12.

Myanmar(Burma)
Fletcher (FU-24A-950)

Summary

A Fletcher aircraft operated by UTS Geophysics was forced to ditch off the coast of Myanmar(Burma). The aircraft was on a ferry flight from Australia to Africa and at the time of the accident was on a leg from Lankawi to Calcutta, India. The pilot reported experiencing engine problems and reduced power forcing him to ditch off the coast of a small island. The aircraft floated into shore and the pilot stepped off onto dry land. The aircraft sustained some damage, but he pilot was uninjured. The aircraft was subsequently disposed of by the insurance company and there was no investigation as to the cause of the power loss.

Australia
Fletcher (FU-24A-950)

Summary

A Fletcher aircraft operated by UTS Geophysics was returning from the survey area when the engine lost power. The pilot made an emergency landing in a field with small trees and shrubs. The aircraft sustained damage to the leading edge and wingtip and the pilot received minor injuries. The accident was not investigated by BASI. The company determined that a mechanical problem led to the engine failure.