49-U.S.C.-1134
§1134 – Inspections and Autopsies
Pathway
Title 49 > Subtitle II > Chapter 11 > Subchapter III > Section 1134
Details
- Reference: Section 1134
- Legend: §1134 – Inspections and Autopsies
- USCode Year: 2013
Provision Content
(a) Entry and Inspection.—An officer or employee of the National Transportation Safety Board—
(1) on display of appropriate credentials and written notice of inspection authority, may enter property where a transportation accident has occurred or wreckage from the accident is located and do anything necessary to conduct an investigation; and
(2) during reasonable hours, may inspect any record, process, control, or facility related to an accident investigation under this chapter.
(b) Inspection, Testing, Preservation, and Moving of Aircraft and Parts.—(1) In investigating an aircraft accident under this chapter, the Board may inspect and test, to the extent necessary, any civil aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or property on an aircraft involved in an accident in air commerce.
(2) Any civil aircraft, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or property on an aircraft involved in an accident in air commerce shall be preserved, and may be moved, only as provided by regulations of the Board.
(c) Avoiding Unnecessary Interference and Preserving Evidence.—In carrying out subsection (a)(1) of this section, an officer or employee may examine or test any vehicle, vessel, rolling stock, track, or pipeline component. The examination or test shall be conducted in a way that—
(1) does not interfere unnecessarily with transportation services provided by the owner or operator of the vehicle, vessel, rolling stock, track, or pipeline component; and
(2) to the maximum extent feasible, preserves evidence related to the accident, consistent with the needs of the investigation and with the cooperation of that owner or operator.
(d) Exclusive Authority of Board.—Only the Board has the authority to decide on the way in which testing under this section will be conducted, including decisions on the person that will conduct the test, the type of test that will be conducted, and any individual who will witness the test. Those decisions are committed to the discretion of the Board. The Board shall make any of those decisions based on the needs of the investigation being conducted and, when applicable, subsections (a), (c), and (e) of this section.
(e) Promptness of Tests and Availability of Results.—An inspection, examination, or test under subsection (a) or (c) of this section shall be started and completed promptly, and the results shall be made available.
(f) Autopsies.—(1) The Board may order an autopsy to be performed and have other tests made when necessary to investigate an accident under this chapter. However, local law protecting religious beliefs related to autopsies shall be observed to the extent consistent with the needs of the accident investigation.
(2) With or without reimbursement, the Board may obtain a copy of an autopsy report performed by a State or local official on an individual who died because of a transportation accident investigated by the Board under this chapter.
(Pub. L. 103–272, §1(d), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 754.)
| Revised Section |
Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 1134(a) | 49 App.:1903(b)(2) (1st sentence words before 3d comma, 3d sentence). | Jan. 3, 1975, Pub. L. 93–633, §304(b)(2), 88 Stat. 2170; Nov. 3, 1981, Pub. L. 97–74, §5, 95 Stat. 1065; Nov. 28, 1990, Pub. L. 101–641, §3, 104 Stat. 4654. |
| 1134(b) | 49 App.:1441(c) (2d sentence), (d). | Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, §701(c) (2d, last sentences), (d), 72 Stat. 781; Oct. 15, 1962, Pub. L. 87–810, §§1, 2, 76 Stat. 921. |
| 49 App.:1655(d) (1st sentence). | Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, §6(d) (1st sentence), 80 Stat. 938. | |
| 49 App.:1903(a)(1)(A). | Jan. 3, 1975, Pub. L. 93–633, §304(a)(1)(A), (b)(5), 88 Stat. 2168, 2170. | |
| 1134(c) | 49 App.:1903(b)(2) (1st sentence words after 3d comma, 2d sentence). | |
| 1134(d) | 49 App.:1903(b)(2) (5th, last sentences). | |
| 1134(e) | 49 App.:1903(b)(2) (4th sentence). | |
| 1134(f) | 49 App.:1441(c) (last sentence). | |
| 49 App.:1655(d) (1st sentence). | ||
| 49 App.:1903(a)(1)(A), (b)(5). |
In subsection (a), before clause (1), the word officer is added for consistency in the revised title.
In subsection (b)(1), the words investigating an aircraft accident are substituted for carrying out its duties in 49 App.:1441(c) for clarity. The words inspect and test are substituted for examine and test for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.
In subsection (c), before clause (1), the words In carrying out subsection (a)(1) of this section, an officer or employee are added because of the restatement. The words or any part of any such item are omitted as surplus. The words when such examination or testing is determined to be required for purposes of such investigation are omitted as unnecessary because of the words do anything necessary to conduct an investigation in subsection (a)(1) of this section. In clause (1), the word obstruct is omitted as being included in interfere.
In subsection (d), the word individuals is substituted for persons the 2d time that word is used for clarity. The words The Board shall make any of those decisions are substituted for and shall be made because of the restatement.
In subsection (e), the word promptly is substituted for with reasonable promptness to eliminate unnecessary words.
In subsection (f)(1), the words In the case of any fatal accident in 49 App.:1441(c) are omitted as surplus. The words to examine the remains of any deceased person aboard the aircraft at the time of the accident, who dies as a result of the accident are omitted as unnecessary because of the authority of the Board to conduct autopsies.
U.S. Encyclopedia of Law Coverage
Subchapter I – General in the Legal Encyclopedia: Transportation
In this entry about Subchapter I – General, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to transportation in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States transportation-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
49-U.S.C.-1132 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Agencies
In this entry about 49-U.S.C.-1132, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to agencies in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States agencies-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
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