Accident and Incident Investigation, Reporting and Safety Management
What the exam tests
This domain tests Annex 13 definitions and notification duties, plus the purpose of safety management systems. Expect questions distinguishing an accident from an incident and identifying which State investigates.
Core rules
- An accident is an occurrence associated with aircraft operation, from boarding to disembarking, in which a person is killed or seriously injured, the aircraft receives substantial damage, or the aircraft is missing or inaccessible.
- An incident is an occurrence other than an accident that affects or could affect safety. A serious incident is one with a high probability of becoming an accident.
- The State of occurrence normally investigates. The State of registry, State of the operator, State of design and State of manufacture may be invited to participate. Notification must be prompt and must not wait for the full investigation.
- Investigators protect evidence such as flight recorders, wreckage, documents and witness statements. The investigation aims to prevent recurrence, not to apportion blame.
- SMS has four components: safety policy and objectives, safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion. Reporting systems support hazard identification and corrective action.
Worked example
During landing, the nose gear collapses and the propeller strikes the runway, causing substantial damage but no injuries. This is an accident because substantial damage occurred. The operator notifies the State of occurrence and its own State without delay, preserves records and cooperates with the investigator. Calling it a mere incident would be wrong and could delay mandatory action.
Traps
Do not require injury for every accident; substantial damage can be enough. Do not confuse serious incident with accident. Do not say the operator's State automatically leads the investigation. Do not treat SMS as a disciplinary tool rather than a safety system.