Aircraft Accident and Incident
Air Regulations · Chapter 19 · DGCA CPL and ATPL
When something goes wrong, what kind of event it legally is, who must be told within 24 hours, who investigates, and why you must not touch the wreckage.
Remember
- An accident needs an outcome: death or serious injury, significant damage, or the aircraft missing. A serious incident only needs a high probability of an accident.
- A death counts as a fatal injury only if it happens within 30 days of the accident.
- The PIC notifies AAIB and DGCA as soon as possible, and never later than 24 hours after becoming aware.
- DG, AAIB investigates every accident in India, whatever the aircraft's registration; nothing is moved without DG, AAIB authority, except to save life or stop destruction.
- Cockpit voice and image recordings cannot be used to punish, sue or prosecute the crew or their company.
What happens after an accident or incident?
The big picture
Four questions the rules answer. Tap a box with + to open it.
- Accident and incident Annex 13, AAIB Rules 2017 How occurrences are classified, who must be told and how fast, who investigates, and how the evidence is protected. The aim is to stop the same thing happening again.
- What kind of event? four occurrence types An occurrence is an accident, serious incident, significant incident or incident. Air traffic incidents are serious occurrences linked to air traffic services.
- Accident Fatal or serious injury, significant damage, or aircraft missing.
- Serious incident Circumstances showing a high probability of an accident.
- Significant incident Something that would have become an accident or serious incident if the risk had not been kept within safe limits.
- Incident Any other occurrence affecting the safety of operation.
- Air traffic incident AIRPROX or serious difficulty A serious occurrence related to air traffic services: an aircraft proximity (AIRPROX), or a serious difficulty that causes a hazard to aircraft.
- AIRPROX aircraft proximity Aircraft proximity: one of the two kinds of air traffic incident.
- Serious difficulty procedures or ground facilities Wrong procedures, procedures not followed, or ground facilities that failed.
- Report form within 24 h of landing Fill in the Air Traffic Incident Report Form and send it the fastest way to DGCA, with a copy to AAI, as soon as you can after landing and within 24 hours.
- Who tells whom? within 24 hours The PIC, or someone acting for them, notifies AAIB and DGCA within 24 hours of becoming aware; in India also the District Magistrate and police.
- The PIC or owner/operator if PIC cannot If the PIC is killed or incapacitated, the owner, operator, hirer or relevant person notifies.
- To AAIB and DGCA quickest means Tell the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and DGCA, by the fastest way you have.
- In India: DM and police District Magistrate and police The District Magistrate, and whoever is in charge of the closest police station.
- Who investigates? DG, AAIB DG, AAIB investigates accidents and incidents in India. Other States may take part and appoint representatives.
- Every accident in India whatever the registration DG, AAIB investigates every accident or incident in Indian territory, whatever the aircraft's registration.
- Investigator-in-Charge unhampered access To wreckage, flight recorders and ATS records, with control for detailed examination without delay.
- Other States take part Registry, Operator, Design, Manuf. States of Registry, Operator, Design and Manufacture.
- Over 100 000 kg Design, Manufacture name a rep The States of Design and Manufacture must name their representative.
- Protecting the evidence default: do not move By default the aircraft and its contents stay untouched unless DG, AAIB authorises otherwise, with a few exceptions for rescue, safety and supervised removal.
- Nothing moved without DG, AAIB Only a person under the authority of DG, AAIB may remove or interfere with the aircraft and its contents.
- Limited exceptions rescue, fire, water, goods, luggage Rescue of people or animals, preventing fire or obstruction, moving a wreck on water to safety, and supervised removal of goods, luggage and mail.
- CVR and image recordings not for proceedings against people Not for disciplinary, civil, administrative or criminal proceedings against employees, operational personnel or organisations.
- What kind of event? four occurrence types An occurrence is an accident, serious incident, significant incident or incident. Air traffic incidents are serious occurrences linked to air traffic services.
Takeaway: Classify the event, notify within 24 hours, let DG, AAIB investigate, and protect the wreckage and recordings.
Can you classify the occurrence?
Classify it
Work down the tests in order. The first yes decides.
- Was anyone fatally or seriously injured?
- Was there damage affecting strength or flight characteristics?
- Is the aircraft missing or completely inaccessible?
- Was there a high probability of an accident?
- Would it have been an accident if the risk had not been kept under control?
- Accident
- Serious incident
- Significant incident
- Incident
Takeaway: Injury, damage or a missing aircraft makes it an accident; otherwise ask how close it came.
Accident, serious incident or incident?
Sort the events
Read each case and press the stamp that applies.
This lesson is part of the Exam-Ready plan. See plans
What typically counts as a serious incident?
Serious incident list
The book's guidance list, grouped. Tap + to open each.
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When is an injury 'serious'?
Serious injury
Any one of six criteria, in three groups. Tap a box with + to open it.
This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans
Who investigates, and who takes part?
Who investigates?
Annex 13 and India's rules. Tap + to open each.
This lesson is part of the Exam-Ready plan. See plans
May the wreckage be moved?
Moving wreckage
The default answer is no. Test each exception in turn.
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When does it count, and which clocks start?
Time limits
Top: the window in which an event can be an accident. Bottom: the time limits that follow.
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How fast, to whom, and what counts as serious?
After the event
Three views: the deadlines, who is told and the six serious-injury criteria.
This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans
How do you report an incident in flight?
Report an incident
Radio first if it matters, then the form within 24 hours.
This lesson is part of the Exam-Ready plan. See plans
What is an air traffic incident?
Air traffic incidents
Two kinds of serious ATS-related occurrence. Tap + to open each.
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Numbers to know
Numbers
The time limits and thresholds examiners like.
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Pairs that catch students out
Don't mix up
Each pair looks alike. The rule underneath tells them apart.
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Test yourself
Ten questions from this chapter.
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