A26 Special K wrote:
Perhaps the confusion comes from the term “substantial damage” as defined by the NTSB Reg’s for reporting an accident. There are several exemptions written into the rule. The typical damage, for example, found after landing with the gear up because the pilot forgot to lower the gear is exempt. It may cost $50,000 to fix, but it not reportable to the NTSB. Damage due to groundloops, same thing. This Stearman was involved in a landing accident and the NTSB rule was applied, but the press either wasn’t told or left that out of the story. The FAA still wants to know about it, but the NTSB doesn't unless it was caused by a structural or major system failure or someone was killed for instance. Basically, cost to repair is not the first consideration for reporting purposes to the NTSB.
The FAA may want to know about it, but there is no federal statute or requirement to do so for most situations. Part 91 Standard Category Aircraft accidents or incidents are not required to be reported to the FAA. The only requirement for Federal notification for accidents and certain reportable incidents is governed by the NTSB per 49 CFR 830.5 for Part 91 Standard Category aircraft. If this Stearman is registered in the Standard Category, and it likely is, then this aircraft would not require FAA notification for this incident.
FYI, just to add on to what was mentioned previously, the vast majority of "inadvertent" gear up landings, unless they generate damage that is considered "substantial", are not, in and of themselves, reportable incidents to either the FAA or NTSB. That is the reason why you cannot look up most past warbird inadvertent "gear up" landing incidents on the NTSB website. In most cases these incidents were not required to be reported. This has allowed a great number of warbird pilots to keep their "inadvertent gear up" landings very quiet and under the radar. Yes, there are several well known warbird pilots who have inadvertently landed gear up that the general public does not know about and this is the reason why.
In regards to monetary damages - this has absolutely nothing to do with whether an aircraft accident or incident is reportable to either the NTSB or FAA. Estimated or actual repair cost to the aircraft has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on this discussion. The only time monetary damage estimates come into play is, as per 49 CFR 830.5:
"Damage to property, other than the aircraft, estimated to exceed $25,000 for repair (including materials and labor) or fair market value in the event of total loss, whichever is less."So, monetary damages to the aircraft have no bearing on any of this. Physical aircraft structural damage criteria for reportable accidents and incidents to the NTSB are only governed by what is considered "substantial damage", as defined under 49 CFR 830.2.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
