Accident and Incident Investigation Flashcards
7 cards from real ASI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Accident and Incident Investigation flashcards as text
Under 49 CFR Part 830, which party has primary responsibility for notifying the NTSB immediately after an aircraft accident?
Answer: The operator or pilot-in-command
49 CFR Part 830 places the immediate notification responsibility on the operator or pilot-in-command of the aircraft involved.
What is the NTSB's definition of a 'serious injury' in the context of aviation accidents?
Answer: An injury as defined in 49 CFR 830.2, including fractures, hemorrhage, nerve damage, or internal organ damage
49 CFR 830.2 provides a specific legal definition of serious injury that includes fractures (except simple ones), severe hemorrhages, nerve/muscle/tendon damage, internal organ damage, second/third degree burns, and infectious substances exposure.
During an accident investigation, an ASI discovers a maintenance record discrepancy. What is the correct course of action?
Answer: Document the discrepancy and preserve all records as evidence
Discrepancies in maintenance records are potential evidence and must be documented and preserved without alteration pending full investigation.
What does the term 'probable cause' mean in the context of an NTSB accident investigation report?
Answer: The NTSB's determination of the factor(s) that, if corrected, would most likely have prevented the accident
The NTSB uses 'probable cause' to identify the act, omission, condition, or circumstance that, if corrected, most likely would have prevented the accident — it is not a legal or criminal finding.
An ASI is investigating a runway incursion incident at a towered airport. Which record source would BEST document ATC communications during the event?
Answer: ATC voice recordings and radar track data from the facility
ATC voice recordings and radar track data provide the most direct evidence of communications and aircraft positions during a runway incursion event.
What is the primary purpose of the Aviation Safety Hotline (ASIAS) data in accident investigations?
Answer: To correlate voluntary safety reports with accident patterns to identify systemic risks
ASIAS integrates multiple aviation safety databases including voluntary reports to identify systemic risks and trends, supporting proactive safety management.
Under what circumstance may the NTSB delegate the investigation of an aircraft accident to the FAA?
Answer: When the NTSB determines the accident does not warrant full Board investigation, typically for less complex accidents
The NTSB may delegate accident investigation authority to the FAA for less complex accidents while retaining overall oversight and final report authority.