WASHINGTON — A collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people brought renewed focus on the federal agency charged with investigating aviation disasters. National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Hommendy has described the investigation into the crash as an “all-hands-on-deck event” for the agency. – Here are some things to know about the NTSB: What does the agency do? – The NTSB is an independent federal agency responsible for investigating all civil aviation accidents as well as serious incidents in the U.S. involving other modes of transportation, such as railroad disasters and major accidents involving motor vehicles, marine vessels, pipelines and even commercial space operators. “We’re here to ensure the American people that we are going to leave no stone unturned in this investigation,” Homendy said, noting the probe is in the very early stages. “We are going to conduct a thorough investigation of this entire tragedy, looking at the facts.” The agency has five board members who serve five-year terms and are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. – How will the investigation work? – For the investigation into Wednesday’s crash, the NTSB will establish several different working groups, each responsible for investigating different areas connected to the accident, board member Todd Inman said. Inman said those groups include operations, which will examine…Read more