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PilotSchool Knowledge Base

Incidents vs Accidents

Introduction

This section addresses the necessary reporting requirements following an aviation incident or accident and clarifies the distinctions between these occurrences. Understanding the differences and reporting obligations is essential for compliance with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) guidelines and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) regulations.

Differences Between an Incident and an Accident

Definitions

  • Accident: An accident involves more severe consequences, including the deaths or serious injuries of individuals, destruction or serious damage to the aircraft, or significant property damage. Post-1 January 2023 definitions emphasize aircraft missing or wholly inaccessible as part of these criteria ATSB Terminology | ATSB.

  • Incident: An incident, in contrast, is any event, not amounting to an accident, that affects or has the potential to affect aircraft operation safety. Incidents typically do not involve damage to the aircraft or injuries to people but are noteworthy for the implications on safety Annex 13 - ICAO.

Serious Incidents

  • Serious Incident: This classification pertains to events with a high probability of progressing to an accident if conditions were slightly different. These scenarios include near misses and narrowly avoided controlled flight into terrain ATSB Terminology | ATSB.

Reporting Requirements Following an Incident or Accident

Immediate and Routine Reporting

  • Immediately Reportable Matters: Incidents requiring immediate reporting include aircraft accidents and serious incidents. Such matters must be communicated via telephone as soon as feasible. Essential details include the aircraft specifics, incident description, and contact information Aviation Reporting Requirements | ATSB.

  • Routine Reportable Matters: These incidents demand written reports within 72 hours. Although less severe, these occurrences still require comprehensive documentation, including environmental conditions and flight details Aviation Reporting Requirements | ATSB.

Entities Responsible for Reporting

  • Responsible parties encompass crew members, maintenance engineers, aircraft operators, ATC personnel, and CASA staff. This broad responsibility ensures detailed and timely data gathering for effective safety management and analysis CASA Compliance and Enforcement.

CASA and ATSB Collaboration

  • CASA uses data from the ATSB to inform safety trends, potential risks, and necessary regulatory actions. The ATSB provides CASA with both detailed and anonymized summaries to support ongoing safety efforts CASA Reporting Procedures.

Conclusion

Understanding and differentiating between incidents and accidents are crucial for effective reporting and compliance with Australian aviation regulations. Immediate and routine reporting requirements, along with collaborative endeavors between CASA and ATSB, ensure continued safety improvements in the aviation sector.