The aircraft was not fitted nor required to be fitted with a crash-resistant fuel system under the current standards or those in place at the time of manufacture. As a result, post-impact fire presents a significant risk of fire-related injuries and fatalities to aircraft occupants.
Response by the United States Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is forming a cross-organisational team to review the topic of post-crash fires and identify potential risk mitigations.
ATSB comment
The ATSB acknowledges the Federal Aviation Administration’s plan to review the issue of post-impact fires. However, as there is no commitment to safety action addressing standards for crash-resistant fuel systems or timeframe, the ATSB is issuing the following safety recommendation.
The ATSB recommends that the United States Federal Aviation Administration take action to address certification requirements for crash-resistant fuel systems for fixed wing aircraft to reduce the risk of post-impact fire.
