Occurrence Reporting - Air

Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Aviation Occurrence Reporting

Requirement to Report
Extracts from TSB Regulations Sections 6(1) and 6(5)

When a reportable aviation accident or incident takes place, the owner, operator, pilot-in-command, any crew member of the aircraft and, where the accident or incident involves a loss of separation or a risk of collision, any air traffic controller having direct knowledge of the accident or incident shall report to the Board as is available, as soon as possible and by the quickest means available.

Where any person required to do so makes a report to the Board, no other person referred to above is required to make a report.

What is a reportable accident
TSB Regulations Section 2(1)

A "reportable aviation accident" means an accident resulting directly from the operation of an aircraft, where

(a) a person sustains a serious injury or is killed as a result of

1. being on board the aircraft,
2. coming into contact with any part of the aircraft or its contents, or
3. being directly exposed to the jet blast or rotor downwash of the aircraft,

(b) the aircraft sustains damage or failure that adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft and that requires major repair or replacement of any affected component part, or

(c) the aircraft is missing or inaccessible.

What is a reportable incident
TSB Regulations Section 2(1)

A "reportable aviation incident" means an incident resulting directly from the operation of an airplane having a maximum certificated take-off weight greater than 5 700 kg, or from the operation of a rotorcraft having a maximum certificated take-off weight greater than 2 250 kg, where

(a) an engine fails or is shut down as a precautionary measure,

(b) a transmission gearbox malfunction occurs,

(c) smoke or fire occurs,

(d) difficulties in controlling the aircraft are encountered owing to any aircraft system malfunction, weather phenomena, wake turbulence, uncontrolled vibrations or operations outside the flight envelope,

(e) the aircraft fails to remain within the intended landing or take-off area, lands with all or part of the landing gear retracted or drags a wing tip, an engine pod or any other part of the aircraft,

(f) any crew member whose duties are directly related to the safe operation of the aircraft is unable to perform the crew member's duties as a result of a physical incapacitation that poses a threat to the safety of any person, property or the environment,

(g) depressurization occurs that necessitates an emergency descent,

(h) a fuel shortage occurs that necessitates a diversion or requires approach and landing priority at the destination of the aircraft,

(i) the aircraft is refuelled with the incorrect type of fuel or contaminated fuel,

(j) a collision, a risk of collision or a loss of separation occurs,

(k) a crew member declares an emergency or indicates any degree of emergency that requires priority handling by an air traffic control unit or the standing by of emergency response services,

(l) a slung load is released unintentionally or as a precautionary or emergency measure from the aircraft, or

(m) any dangerous goods are released in or from the aircraft.

What information is required
TSB Regulations Sections 6(2) and 6(3)

When a reportable aviation accident or incident takes place, the report to the Board shall contain as much of the following information as is available:

(a) the type, model and nationality and registration marks of the aircraft;

(b) the names of the owner, operator and, where applicable, the hirer of the aircraft;

(c) the name of the pilot-in-command;

(d) the date and time of the accident or incident;

(e) the last point of departure and the point of intended landing of the aircraft, including the date and time of the departure;

(f) where the aircraft is not missing or is not inaccessible,

1. the location of the accident or incident by reference to an easily defined geographical point, or by latitude and longitude,
2. the number of crew members, passengers and other persons that were killed or sustained a serious injury,
3. a description of the accident or incident and the extent of any resulting damage to the aircraft, the environment and other property, and
4. a description of any dangerous goods on board, or released from, the aircraft;

(g) where the aircraft is missing or inaccessible,

1. the last known position of the aircraft by reference to an easily defined geographical point, or by latitude and longitude, including the date and time of that position,
2. the number of crew members and passengers on board the aircraft,
3. a description of any dangerous goods carried on board the aircraft, and
4. the action being taken to locate, or gain access to, the aircraft; and

(h) the name and address of the person making the report.

In addition to the reporting requirements set out above, the person making the report shall, in a form approved by the Board, submit to the Board within 30 days after the accident or incident all the above information, unless otherwise exempted by the Board.

Air Reporting Form

How to make a report

Anyone learning of an aviation occurrence, in addition to alerting the local emergency and police services, shall report the occurrence by phone to nearest TSB Air regional office.

TSB Offices Contact Information

Updated: 2007-03-12

Important Notices