Regulatory Deviation and Accident Reporting
Regulatory Deviation and Accident Reporting
This lesson explains when a Remote Pilot in Command may deviate from Part 107 during an in-flight emergency and when an accident or safety event must be reported to the FAA.
In-Flight Emergencies and Regulatory Deviations
In an in-flight emergency that requires immediate action, the Remote Pilot in Command (Remote PIC) may deviate from any Part 107 rule, but only to the extent necessary to meet that emergency. The purpose of this authority is to protect people and property when immediate action is required.
This is not blanket permission to ignore Part 107 requirements. A Remote PIC may not deviate because the flight is inconvenient, because the operation was poorly planned, or because following the rule would take more time. The deviation must be necessary to respond to a real, immediate emergency.
For example, if a drone suddenly loses control near people or another aircraft, the Remote PIC should take the action needed to minimize injury or damage and regain control of the operation.
Emergency-Deviation Rule
When may the Remote PIC deviate? During an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action.
How far may the Remote PIC deviate? Only to the extent necessary to address the emergency.
Is a written report automatic? No. The Remote PIC must submit a written report only if the FAA requests one.
Accident Reporting
A Remote PIC must report a qualifying accident or safety event to the FAA within 10 calendar days. There are two reporting triggers.
Injury Trigger
Report the event if a person suffers a serious injury or any loss of consciousness.
Property-Damage Trigger
Report the event if property other than the small unmanned aircraft is damaged, and either of the following is true:
- The cost of repair, including materials and labor, exceeds $500.
- The property is a total loss with a fair market value that exceeds $500.
Damage to the small unmanned aircraft itself does not count toward the property-damage threshold. Minor damage to other property is also not reportable when repair costs do not exceed $500 and the property is not a total loss worth more than $500.
Example: Reportable Property Damage
You are hired to film a car-chase scene. A mechanical issue causes your drone to crash into a car, and the repairs cost $1,000. Because the damaged property is not the small unmanned aircraft and the repair cost exceeds $500, this is a reportable event. The Remote PIC must report it to the FAA within 10 calendar days.
Example: Not Reportable Based on the Damage Threshold
During a real-estate shoot, a wind gust causes the drone to strike a house. Repairs to the drone cost $1,000, but the siding on the house costs only $400 to repair. Assuming the siding is not a total loss with a fair market value over $500, the event is not reportable because the damage to the drone does not count and the repair cost for the house does not exceed $500.
Post-Incident Decision Check
After an incident, ask the following questions:
- Did anyone suffer a serious injury or any loss of consciousness?
- Was property other than the small unmanned aircraft damaged?
- If so, did the repair cost, including materials and labor, exceed $500?
- If the property was a total loss, did its fair market value exceed $500?
If the answer is yes to an injury trigger or a property-damage trigger, report the event to the FAA within 10 calendar days.
Lesson Recap
- A Remote PIC may deviate from Part 107 in an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, but only as far as necessary to meet that emergency.
- A written report about the deviation is required only if the FAA requests it.
- Report a qualifying accident or safety event to the FAA within 10 calendar days if it involves a serious injury, any loss of consciousness, repairable damage to property other than the small unmanned aircraft exceeding $500, or total-loss property damage with a fair market value exceeding $500.