Participation of EASA and national civil aviation authorities in safety investigations
Article 8
1. Safety investigation authorities shall, provided that the requirement of no conflict of interest is satisfied, invite EASA and national civil aviation authorities of the Member States concerned, within the scope of their respective competence, to appoint a representative to participate: (a) as an adviser to the investigator-in-charge in any safety investigation under Article 5(1) and (2), conducted in the territory of a Member State or in the location referred to in Article 5(2) under the control and at the discretion of the investigator-in-charge; (b) as an adviser appointed under this Regulation to assist accredited representative(s) of the Member States in any safety investigation conducted in a third country to which a safety investigation authority is invited to designate an accredited representative in accordance with international standards and recommended practices for aircraft accident and incident investigation, under the supervision of the accredited representative. 2. The participants referred to in paragraph 1 shall be entitled, in particular to: (a) visit the scene of the accident and examine the wreckage; (b) suggest areas of questioning and obtain witness information; (c) receive copies of all pertinent documents and obtain relevant factual information; (d) participate in the read-outs of recorded media, except cockpit voice or image recorders; (e) participate in off-scene investigative activities such as component examinations, tests and simulations, technical briefings and investigation progress meetings, except when related to the determination of the causes or the formulation of safety recommendations. 3. EASA and the national civil aviation authorities shall support the investigation in which they participate by supplying the requested information, advisers and equipment to the safety investigation authority in charge.