During a preflight briefing, a pilot asks how the NTSB distinguishes an 'accident' from an 'incident' under 49 CFR Part 830. Which of the following occurrences would be classified as an accident?
- AA hard landing that only flattens one landing gear tire with no injuries
- BA helicopter's tail rotor strikes and seriously injures a ground crew member, who is hospitalized for more than 48 hours within 7 days of the event
- CA brief engine surge during ground runup with no resulting damage or injury
- DA minor door latch failure in flight that causes no injury or damage
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. A helicopter's tail rotor strikes and seriously injures a ground crew member, who is hospitalized for more than 48 hours within 7 days of the event
49 CFR 830.2 defines an 'accident' as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or the aircraft receives substantial damage, between the time any person boards with intent for flight and all persons disembark. Hospitalization for more than 48 hours within 7 days of the injury meets the definition of 'serious injury,' making this an accident. The other scenarios involve neither serious injury nor substantial damage, so they would be classified as incidents or minor occurrences, not accidents.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A flat tire alone is excluded from 'substantial damage' under 830.2 and does not constitute an accident.
- C. No damage or injury occurred; this does not meet the accident threshold.
- D. No damage or injury occurred, so this does not qualify as an accident.
Accident vs Incident (49 CFR 830.2)
An 'accident' involves death, serious injury, or substantial aircraft damage during the operation of an aircraft; an 'incident' is any other occurrence associated with operation that affects safety without meeting those thresholds.
- Serious injury includes hospitalization >48 hrs within 7 days, among other criteria
- Substantial damage excludes engine failure alone, bent fairings, and flat tires/tubes
- Definition applies from boarding with intent for flight until disembarkation
Memory trick: 'Serious hurts or serious dents' define an accident — anything less is just an incident.