Accident/Incident Notification and Safety Reporting
Accident and incident notification and safety reporting test the boundary between an accident, a serious incident and an incident, who must be notified, and how evidence is preserved. The Civil Aviation Act 1990 and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990 set the framework.
Definitions and notification
An accident involves a person killed or seriously injured, or the aircraft destroyed or substantially damaged. A serious incident is an occurrence that nearly caused an accident. An incident is any occurrence affecting safety. The operator or pilot must notify the CAA and TAIC as soon as practicable. TAIC investigates accidents and serious incidents; the CAA investigates incidents and takes regulatory action.
Preservation and reporting
Do not move or interfere with wreckage except to rescue people, prevent further damage or fire, or as authorised. Reportable occurrences include runway incursions, near misses, bird strikes and significant defects. Safety reporting systems allow confidential reports and support a just-culture approach.
Worked example
An aircraft suffers a bird strike with no damage and continues. This is an incident, not an accident, and should be reported to the CAA through the occurrence reporting system. If the aircraft had substantial damage, it would be an accident requiring immediate notification to TAIC and the CAA.
Traps
- Thinking only accidents are reportable.
- Believing TAIC regulates aviation; it investigates.
- Moving wreckage to inspect damage before authorisation.
- Using a fixed 24-hour deadline instead of 'as soon as practicable'.