Definitions Aviation

Here you will find a few terms which are used in relation with aircraft accidents and incidents:

Accident

An accident is an occurrence associated with the operation of a manned or unmanned aircraft in which a person has been fatally or seriously injured, the aircraft has sustained substantial damage or is missing. For a detailed definition of an accident or serious injury, see Art. 2, paras. 1, 5 and 17 of Regulation (EU) No 996/2010.

Incident

An incident is an occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft which affects or could affect the safety of operation. For a detailed definition of an incident, see Art. 2 para. 7 of Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 in conjunction with Art. 5 OSITI.

Serious incident

A serious incident is an incident involving circumstances indicating that there was a high probability of an accident associated with the operation of a manned or unmanned aircraft. Typical examples of serious incidents are the following:

  • Engine failures;
  • Emergency landings;
  • Unintentional convergence of two aircraft (Airprox, near miss, runway incursion);
  • Fires or development of smoke in the aircraft, even if these could be extinguished;
  • VFR flights in IMC;
  • Almost controlled flight into terrain (CFIT);
  • Incidents in which the crew were forced to use oxygen;
  • Failure of several redundant on-board systems or air traffic control systems;
  • Fuel shortage;
  • Incapacitation of a flight crew member during the flight;
  • Runway excursion or runway overrun during take-off or landing.

For a detailed definition of a serious incident, see Art. 2 paras. 7 and 16 of Regulation (EU) No  996/2010 in connection with Art. 5 OSITI and the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 996/2010.

Occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft under circumstances which nearly led to an accident.

Examples of serious incidents (this list is not exhaustive and serves only as a guidance for the definition of the term "serious incidents"):

  • Near collisions requiring an avoidance manoeuvre to avoid a collision or an unsafe situation or when an avoidance action would have been appropriate;
  • Controlled flight into terrain only marginally avoided;
  • Aborted take-offs on a closed or engaged runway;
  • Take-offs from a closed or engaged runway with marginal separation from obstacle(s);
  • Landings or attempted landings on a closed or engaged runway;
  • Gross failures to achieve predicted performance during take-off or initial climb;
  • Fires and smoke in the passenger compartment, in cargo compartments or engine fires, even though such fires were extinguished by the use of extinguishing agents;
  • Events requiring the emergency use of oxygen by the flight crew;
  • Aircraft structural failures or engine disintegrations not classified as an accident;
  • Multiple malfunctions of one or more aicraft systems seriously affecting the operation of the aircraft;
  • Flight crew incapacitation in flight;
  • Fuel quantity requiring the declaration of an emergency by the pilot;
  • Take-off or landing incidents; incidents such as undershooting, overrunning or running off the side of runways;
  • System failures, weather phenomena, operations outside the approved flight envelope or other occurences which could have caused difficulties controlling the aircraft;
  • Failures of more than one system in a redundancy system mandatory for flight guidance and navigation.

Aircraft accident

An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft, as long as a person is aboard the aircraft with the intention of flight:

  • in which a person in or outside the aircraft is seriously or fatally injured, or
  • in which the aircraft sustains damage which substantially affects structural strength, performance or flight characteristics and which normally requires major repair or the replacement of the affected component;
  • in which the aircraft is missing or the wreckage is inaccessible.

The following events are not considered as aircraft accidents:

  • Casualties and injuries not directly associated with the operation of an aircraft;
  • casualties and injuries to persons who without authorisation have entered areas not designated for access by crews and passengers;
  • moreover engine failures and damage limited to only one engine, its accessories or to the propeller blades;
  • damage to fairings; slight deformation of or puncture holes in the aircraft skin;
  • damage to the wing or rotor blade tips, antennas, tires or brakes.

Serious injury

An injury which is sustained by a person in an accident and which:

  • within 7 days requires hospitalisation for more than 48 hours;
  • involves a fracture of any bone except simple fractures of fingers, toes or the nose;
  • involves lacerations which cause severe haemorrhage, nerve, muscle or tendon damage;
  • results in damage to any internal organ;
  • involves second or third degree burns or any burns affecting more than 5 percent of the body surface;
  • is the result of verified exposure to infectious substances or injurious radiation.

Fatal injury

Serious injury leading to death within thirty days after the aircraft accident.

Large aeroplane

An aeroplane which has a maximum allowable take-off weight of at least 5700 kg, is classified in the airworthiness category Standard, sub-category transport, or has more than 10 seats for passengers and crew.

State of Registry

The State on whose register the aircraft is entered.

State of Manufacture

The State or the States having certified the airworthiness of the prototype (type).

State of the Operator

The State in which the operator's principal place of business or permanent residence is located.