NTSB Flashcards
What is an ‘accident’ according to the NTSB?
An accident is any occurrence during aircraft operation from boarding to disembarkation that results in death, serious injury, or substantial damage to the aircraft.
What qualifies as a ‘serious injury’ in aviation accidents?
A serious injury involves:
- Hospitalization for more than 48 hours within 7 days of the injury.
- Fractures (excluding simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose).
- Severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage.
- Injury to internal organs.
- Second or third-degree burns over more than 5% of the body.
What is ‘substantial damage’ to an aircraft?
Substantial damage involves damage or failure affecting the aircraft’s structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics, usually requiring major repair or component replacement expected to exceed more than $25,000, including materials and labor or expected to exceed fair market value in the event of a total loss, whichever is less.
What is excluded from ‘substantial damage’?
Exclusions include:
- Engine failure or damage to one engine.
- Bent fairings, dented skin, or small punctured holes.
- Ground damage to rotor or propeller blades.
- Damage to landing gear, wheels, brakes, or wingtips.
What is considered an ‘incident’ in aviation?
An incident is any occurrence, other than an accident, that affects or could affect the safety of aircraft operations.
What occurenced dictate that the NTSB be notified immediately?
Immediate notification is required for:
- Flight control system malfunction.
- Inability of crew members to perform flight duties due to injury or illness.
- In-flight fire.
- Property damage exceeding $25,000.
- Aircraft collision in flight.
- Uncontained turbine engine failure.
- Release of a propeller blade.
- Failure of more than 50% of cockpit displays.
- TCAS resolution advisory with collision risk.
- Damage to helicopter rotors requiring major repair.
How should the NTSB be notified of an accident or qualifying incident?
The operator must notify the nearest NTSB field office by the most expeditious means available.
What are the responsibilities of an operator after an accident?
The operator must:
- Notify the NTSB.
- Preserve wreckage and records unless needed to save lives, protect property, or prevent injury.
- Take photographs or diagrams as necessary.
- Complete NTSB Form 6120 (Pilot/Operator Report).
- Cooperate with investigators.
What are the exceptions to preserving wreckage?
Wreckage can be disturbed to:
- Remove injured or trapped persons.
- Protect from further damage.
- Protect the public from injury.
What is included in a Preliminary Report, and when is it released?
The Preliminary Report, released approximately 10 days after an accident, contains initial information subject to change.
What is included in a Factual Report, and when is it released?
The Factual Report is released 4–12 months after the accident and provides detailed findings.
What is the Public Docket, and when is it released?
The Public Docket contains all supporting documents for a case, released concurrently with the Factual Report.
