Hall: Balancing the need for speed and accuracy

Jim Hall, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board

In the aftermath of the crash of American Airlines flight 587, Lou Dobbs spoke with former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, Jim Hall on CNN's 'Moneyline':-

DOBBS: The National Transportation Safety Board seems to moving quickly here. How realistic is it to expect any kind of indication as to what caused this crash?

HALL: Well, I would hope if we get the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder quickly, and are able -- they're in good condition and can be read out, that's our best, chance, Lou, to have an early indication of what happened to this tragic flight.

DOBBS: And what would be the first steps they take in the investigation?

HALL: Well, the first steps, of course, have already been taken. The board has sent a team of highly technical investigators to the accident site. They're designed, you know, divided up in many different disciplines. They will obviously already be working with the airlines to review the maintenance records, working with General Electric to look very closely at the maintenance history on the power plant, as well since that seems to be a possible issue. And reviewing all the air traffic control communications and any other information that they can glean on the site from people that had contact with the aircraft.

DOBBS: Jim, the NTSB has got to feel some incredible pressure to get to the cause of this crash as quickly as possible. Would you agree?

HALL: Well, there's incredible pressure, but we need to be sure the system that has served us so well works. And investigations take time. They need to be thorough. They need to be responsible. We can't be wrong. There's too many personal lives that have been lost here and obviously tremendous economic consequences. So there will be a lot of pressure on the board, but I'm confident the investigators will do their job as they have in the past. And that's thoroughly and responsibly.

DOBBS: The NTSB taking the lead on this investigation. Does that mean that the FBI effectively will not be in -- any co-lead role here?

HALL: Lou, that is sort of a miscommunication of information that many times the American people have. Anytime there's a major accident investigation, both the FBI and the NTSB initiate investigations. And that is what is happening in this situation. The difference, of course, is in this situation, because early indications are it is an accident, the board serves as a spokesperson and under the investigation is conducted under the board's rules and procedures. If at anytime, the board thinks that this is a result of criminal act, they will hand the investigation off to the FBI.

DOBBS: You know, of course, at any stage and certainly today has been no exception in a crash like this, the speculation begins as to what did cause it. But one of the things that is noteworthy here, without suggesting anything beyond this, is that the number of problems that have been experienced for this particularly-designed engine on the aircraft. Does that surprise you, the level of problems that they have had with that engine?

HALL: Well, I'm very familiar with that engine. We'd made a number of recommendations that regrettably, have not yet been completed -- implemented during my tenure at the National Transportation Safety Board on the CF-6 engine. One of the things that I hope the aviation industry will do as part of the things that I think need to be done to regain confidence in the system after 9/11, is to look at all the outstanding NTSB recommendations and try to move quickly to fulfill those recommendations.

DOBBS: Any other thoughts on the situation tonight?

HALL: Well, no, except as you have pointed out, this is a tremendous tragedy, whether an aviation accident is a result of terror as we saw on 9/11 or an accident, as a result of a mechanical or human failure. It's a tremendous loss to the individuals. And of course, the families and loved ones are the ones that are in our thoughts and prayers tonight.

But we have, unlike security, Lou, a very good structure in place for safety. And I'm confident that structure will serve us well. And I know there'll be a great deal of pressure to have early answers, but I think the most important thing is to get the facts and report the facts to the American people just as soon as they're available.

DOBBS: Well Jim, as you know, the result of this investigation there will be no good answers, but at least some, perhaps not as bad as others. So we thank you very much, Jim, for being here with us.