Course Title: Incident and Accident Investigation

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Incident and Accident Investigation

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
AERO2367	City Campus	Postgraduate	115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering	Distance / Correspondence	Sem 1 2007, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010
AERO2367	City Campus	Postgraduate	115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering	Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013
AERO2367	City Campus	Postgraduate	115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016
AERO2367	City Campus	Postgraduate	172H School of Engineering	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2020, Sem 1 2021, Sem 1 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 1 2024
AERO2367	City Campus	Postgraduate	172H School of Engineering	Face-to-Face or Internet	Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2019
AERO2368	China Airlines Ltd	Postgraduate	115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering	Face-to-Face	Offsh 1 07, Offsh 3 07, Offsh 2 08, Offsh 3 08
AERO2369	Air Transport Training College	Postgraduate	115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering	Distance / Correspondence	Offsh 3 07, Offsh 2 08, Offsh 3 08

Course Coordinator: Dr Jose Silva

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 8019

Course Coordinator Email: jose.silva@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 57.3.29

Course Coordinator Availability: Please contact by email to arrange appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Assumed knowledge on Aviation Safety Systems and fundaments of aircraft technologies/systems

Course Description

The aim of the course is to provide you with the skills and knowledge to manage aviation accident and incident investigations within a Safety Management Systems environment.

The first part of the course is focused in the regulatory framework which underpins the investigation process in an international context. We will address some basic concepts of aviation safety management systems and its articulation with the investigation process, with a special emphasis in the Human Factors component.

The second part of the course deals with basic investigation techniques, covering multidisciplinary tools to support the investigation process from a holistic perspective. This part includes: in-situ investigation, management of data, forensic analysis (structure, propulsion systems, aircraft systems), environmental factors, operational and performance characteristics and some special cases.

Finally, you will have the opportunity to apply the investigation management techniques based on case studies and/or simulated scenarios which will allow reinforcing the importance of the different steps of the investigation process to successfully produce a final report containing the main contributing factors and recommendations. 

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for students who commenced their program prior to 2023:

1. Needs, Context and Systems
• Describe, investigate and analyse complex engineering systems and associated issues (using systems thinking and modelling techniques)
• Exposit legal, social, economic, ethical and environmental interests, values, requirements and expectations of key stakeholders
• Identify and assess risks (including OH&S) as well as the economic, social and environmental impacts of engineering activities

2. Problem Solving and Design
• Develop and operate within a hazard and risk framework appropriate to engineering activities

4. Professional Practice
• Understand the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in the specific discipline
• Demonstrate effective team membership and team leadership

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for students who commenced their program in 2023:

• PLO1: Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of fundamental engineering and scientific theories, principles and concepts and apply advanced technical knowledge in specialist domain of engineering. 
• PLO2: Utilise mathematics and engineering fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to design engineering systems for complex engineering challenges.    
• PLO3: Apply engineering research principles, methods and contemporary technologies and practices to plan and execute projects taking into account ethical, environmental and global impacts.     
• PLO4: Apply systematic problem solving, design methods and information and project management to propose and implement creative and sustainable solutions with intellectual independence and cultural sensitivity. 
• PLO5: Communicate respectfully and effectively with diverse audiences, employing a range of communication methods, practising professional and ethical conduct.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

On completion of this course you should be able to:

1. Differentiate between an accident and incident;
2. Apply an understanding of the different steps of an investigation process;
3. Describe the roles and responsibilities of an investigator;
4. Detail the responsibilities of operators and other authorities within investigations;
5. Describe the impact of human factors on the contributory factors behind an occurrence;
6. Apply appropriate methods and protocols by which to collect and analyse evidence within an investigation;
7. Use technical knowledge and forensic techniques across the key areas in aerospace/aeronautical engineering to identify contributory factors behind an occurrence;
8. Apply investigation management techniques to elaborate reports and implement actions to prevent further accidents and incidents.

Overview of Learning Activities

The primary learning mode will be scheduled lectures, supported by assignments and progressive assessment. As a complementary form of acquisition of knowledge in the different topics, students will be stimulated to participate on in-class discussions around selected case studies which are representative of real aircraft accidents. This course will also rely on a “flipped class” methodology, where students are expected to review the course material prior to the lecture and then leaving more time to dedicate to group discussion, presentations and analysis of selected cases.

Overview of Learning Resources

Course-related resources will be provided on-line via the Learning Management System. These may include any of the following elements: course material generated by the lecturer, reference texts, scientific and/or technical literature (e.g., journal papers, articles in specialised magazines, technical standards), and links to useful material on websites (e.g., media resources)
 

Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment 1: Individual assignment, including report submission (online)
Weighting of final grade (%): 30 
these tasks assess the following learning outcomes:
PLO 1,2, 3 and 4. CLO 5 and 6

Assessment 2: Written Test (This assessment is a timed and timetabled assessment that students must attend on campus except for international students who are outside Australia)
Weighting of final grade (%): 35
this task assesses the following learning outcomes:
PLO 1, 2, 3 and 4. CLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Assessment 3: Group Assignment (analysis of an accident), including report submission (online)
Weighting of final grade (%): 35
these tasks assess the following learning outcomes:
PLO 1,2, 3 and 4. CLO 2, 3,4 ,5 ,6, 7, and 8.