Aviation Safety Accident or Incident Notification Requirements
On 1 July 2003, the Transport Safety Investigation Act
2003 and the Transport Safety Investigation Regulations
2003 came into operation. This article is intended to
explain what must be reported and how it must be reported under the
legislation.
Under the Act, mandatory reportable matters are classified as
either an immediately reportable matter (IRM) or a routine
reportable matter (RRM). The Regulations detail the occurrences
which fit these categories and which must be reported to the
ATSB.
Under Regulation 2.3 there are IRMs listed for all aircraft
operations and additional IRMs for air transport operations only.
IRMs for all aircraft operations include:
- death or serious injury to a person on board an aircraft or in
contact with anything attached to the aircraft or detached from the
aircraft, or from jet blast
- aircraft that is missing
- aircraft that has been or thought to have been seriously
damaged
- inaccessible aircraft thought to have been seriously
damaged
- breakdown of separation standards in controlled airspace.
The list of occurrences constituting IRMs for air transport
operations includes:
- airprox (two or more aircraft in such close proximity OCTA that
safety may be jeopardised )
- violation of controlled airspace
- near collision on the ground
- narrow avoidance of flight into terrain
- rejected takeoff from or landing on a closed or occupied
runway
- takeoff from a closed or occupied runway with marginal
separation from an obstacle
- failure to achieve predicted performance during takeoff or
initial climb
- fire or mechanical failure resulting in shutdown of an
engine
- use of any emergency procedure
- flight crew incapacitation or the need for oxygen by a flight
crew member
- malfunction of an aircraft system affecting safety
- fuel exhaustion or supply of useable fuel becoming so low that
the pilot declares an inflight emergency
- undershooting, over-running or running off the side of a
runway
- difficulty in controlling an aircraft
- failure of two or more redundant systems for flight guidance
and navigation
- destruction of or serious damage to any property outside the
aircraft caused by contact with the aircraft or anything that
became detached from the aircraft.
Regulation 2.4 lists RRMs for both air transport operations and
non air transport operations. RRMs for air transport operations
include:
- minor injury to a person on board an aircraft, or in contact
with anything attached to or detached from an aircraft, or from jet
blast
- minor aircraft damage that compromised or could have
compromised flight safety
- flight en route below minimum altitude
- GPWS alert
- critical rejected takeoff
- runway incursion
- failure to achieve predicted performance during takeoff or
initial climb
- malfunction of an aircraft system or fuel starvation (not
requiring declaration of an emergency) that could compromise flight
safety
- weather phenomenon or operation outside the aircrafts approved
flight envelope that does not cause difficulty in controlling an
aircraft
- failure of an ATC facility, navigation aid or airfield
facility
- misinterpretation of information or instructions by flight
crew
- breakdown of ATC co-ordination or failure by ATC to provide
adequate information to a pilot
- TCAS resolution advisory
- occurrence resulting from loading of passengers, cargo or
fuel
- collision with an animal or bird.
RRMs for operations other than air transport operations
include:
- minor injury to a person on board an aircraft
- flight crew member becoming incapacitated while operating an
aircraft
- airprox
- narrow avoidance of flight into terrain
- use of an emergency procedure
- difficulty in controlling the aircraft due to an aircraft
system failure, a weather phenomenon or operation of the aircraft
outside its approved flight envelope
- fuel exhaustion or the aircrafts supply of fuel becoming so low
that the safety of flight is compromised
- collision with an animal or bird on a licensed aerodrome.
A responsible person who has knowledge of an IRM must report it
to a nominated official [Executive Director ATSB or delegated
person Regulation 2.7] as soon as practicable [Act, section 18].
This must be followed with a written report within 72 hours [Act,
section 19] containing the information in Regulation 2.6. An RRM
only requires a written report within 72 hours of the occurrence
[Act section 19]. A responsible person includes a crew member,
owner or operator, air traffic controller, maintenance, aerodrome
or other personnel involved with the aircraft concerned [Regulation
2.5]. If a responsible person believes on reasonable grounds that
another responsible person has already reported to a nominated
official, then they are excused from the requirement to report
[Act, sections 18 & 19]. However, if a responsible person is in
doubt, it is recommended that they make the report themselves.
Reports can be made by telephone to the ATSB Duty Officer on
1800 011034 in the first instance and followed up in writing. The
Aviation Safety Accident or Incident Notification form is available
in hardcopy from the ATSB or on the ATSB website where it can be
completed online.
The above is only a broad guide. The authoritative documents are
the Act and the Regulations to which reporters should
refer. If this does not resolve uncertainty, please call the ATSB
for advice.