Emergency Procedures, Accident Reporting, and Occurrence Reporting
This domain covers the worst day: what a pilot is allowed to do in an emergency, what must be reported afterwards, and to whom. The PSTAR asks about emergency authority, distress and urgency signals, ELT use, and the difference between a reportable accident and an incident.
Emergency authority
- The pilot-in-command may deviate from the regulations to the extent necessary to deal with an emergency, and should notify ATC as soon as practical.
- Declare an emergency with Mayday for grave and imminent danger, or Pan-Pan for urgency. Set the transponder to 7700 and use 121.5 MHz.
- Expect ATC to ask for fuel remaining, persons on board and your intentions. State your intentions early and clearly.
ELT
- Most aeroplanes carry a 406 MHz ELT that also transmits on 121.5 MHz. After an accident, switch it off once rescue is confirmed so the frequency is free. If it activates accidentally, report it immediately to ATC or a flight service station.
Reporting
- Accidents involving death, serious injury, or substantial damage to the aircraft must be reported to the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) as soon as possible.
- Safety occurrences that are not accidents are reported through the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS).
- Preserve the wreckage, do not move the aircraft unless it is necessary for safety, and do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger.
Worked example
On takeoff the engine fails at 300 ft and you land in a field. The nose gear collapses and the firewall is wrinkled, and you have a deep cut on your forehead. This is an accident: serious injury and substantial damage. You report to the TSB immediately, switch off the ELT if it is transmitting, and do not move the aircraft before investigators arrive.
Traps that cost marks
- Sending the accident report to Transport Canada rather than the TSB.
- Treating Mayday and Pan-Pan as interchangeable.
- Assuming an occurrence that caused no injury needs no report at all.