Powers of Inspectors and advisers
9.—(1)  For the purpose of enabling him to carry out an investigation into an accident or incident in the most efficient way and within the shortest time possible, an investigator-in-charge shall have the access rights and powers specified in sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) where the whole or any part of the investigation is carried out in Singapore.
(2)  The investigator-in-charge shall —
(a)have free and unhampered access to the site of the accident or incident as well as to the aircraft, its contents or its wreckage;
(b)have immediate and unrestricted access to and use of the contents of the flight recorders, ATS records and any other recordings;
(c)have access to and be provided with the results of examinations of the bodies of victims or of tests made on samples taken from the bodies of the victims;
(d)have immediate access to and be provided with the results of examinations of the persons involved in the operation of the aircraft or of tests made on samples taken from such persons; and
(e)have free access to any relevant information or records held by the owner, the operator, the operator’s maintenance contractors and sub-contractors, the hirer, the designer or the manufacturer of the aircraft and by the authorities for civil aviation or airport operation or ATS.
(3)  The investigator-in-charge may —
(a)by summons under his hand —
(i)call before him and examine any person as he thinks fit;
(ii)require such person to answer any question or furnish any information or produce any books, papers, documents and articles which he may consider relevant; and
(iii)make copies of and retain any such books, papers, documents and articles until the completion of the investigation;
(b)take statements from all such persons as he thinks fit and require any such person to make and sign a declaration of the truth of the statement made by him;
(c)on production, if required, of his credentials, enter and inspect any place, building or aircraft the entry or inspection whereof appears to him to be necessary for the purposes of the investigation;
(d)on production, if required, of his credentials, remove, test, take measures for the preservation of or otherwise deal with any aircraft other than an aircraft involved in the accident or incident where it appears to him to be necessary for the purposes of the investigation;
(e)take possession of, examine, remove, test or take measures for the preservation of any object or evidence as he considers necessary for the purposes of the investigation;
(f)require an immediate listing of evidence and removal of debris or components for examination or analysis purposes;
(g)require the readout of the flight recorders;
(h)in the case of a fatal accident, require a complete autopsy examination of fatally injured flight crew, and, when necessary, passengers and cabin crew by a pathologist, and if a pathologist experienced in the investigation of aircraft accidents is available, by such pathologist;
(i)where appropriate, require the medical and toxicological examination of the crew, passengers and aviation personnel involved in the accident or incident by a medical practitioner, and if a medical practitioner experienced in the investigation of aircraft accidents is available, by such medical practitioner;
(j)require the crew, passengers and aviation personnel involved in the accident or incident to undergo such other tests (including a breathalyser test) as he considers necessary for the purposes of the investigation; and
(k)seek such advice or assistance as he considers necessary for the purposes of the investigation.
(4)  The following persons may, where the whole or any part of the investigation is carried out in Singapore, exercise the rights and powers of an investigator-in-charge specified in sub-paragraphs (2) and (3):
(a)the deputy investigator-in-charge and any Inspectors designated by the Chief Inspector to assist the investigator-in-charge under paragraph 8(5);
(b)any adviser appointed by the Chief Inspector under paragraph 8(4) to assist the investigator-in-charge, but only to the extent specified by the Chief Inspector.
(5)  Every person summoned as a witness in accordance with this paragraph shall be allowed such expenses as the Minister may, from time to time, determine.
(6)  Any expenses incurred by reason of anything done by the investigator-in-charge or the persons specified in sub-paragraph (4) in exercise of any rights or powers referred to in sub-paragraph (2) or (3) for the purposes of the investigation shall be borne by the owner or operator of the aircraft and be recoverable from either or both of them.
(7)  Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (3)(k), the investigator-in-charge may request another Contracting State to provide such information, facilities or experts as he may consider necessary for the purposes of an investigation.