[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 6]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR830.2]

[Page 203-204]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                              SAFETY BOARD
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec. 830.2  Definitions.

    As used in this part the following words or phrases are defined as 
follows:
    Aircraft accident means an occurrence associated with the operation 
of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the 
aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have 
disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or 
in which the aircraft receives substantial damage.
    Civil aircraft means any aircraft other than a public aircraft.
    Fatal injury means any injury which results in death within 30 days 
of the accident.
    Incident means an occurrence other than an accident, associated with 
the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety 
of operations.
    Operator means any person who causes or authorizes the operation of 
an aircraft, such as the owner, lessee, or bailee of an aircraft.
    Public aircraft means an aircraft used only for the United States 
Government, or an aircraft owned and operated (except for commercial 
purposes) or exclusively leased for at least 90 continuous days by a 
government other

[[Page 204]]

than the United States Government, including a State, the District of 
Columbia, a territory or possession of the United States, or a political 
subdivision of that government. ``Public aircraft'' does not include a 
government-owned aircraft transporting property for commercial purposes 
and does not include a government-owned aircraft transporting passengers 
other than: transporting (for other than commercial purposes) 
crewmembers or other persons aboard the aircraft whose presence is 
required to perform, or is associated with the performance of, a 
governmental function such as firefighting, search and rescue, law 
enforcement, aeronautical research, or biological or geological resource 
management; or transporting (for other than commercial purposes) persons 
aboard the aircraft if the aircraft is operated by the Armed Forces or 
an intelligence agency of the United States. Notwithstanding any 
limitation relating to use of the aircraft for commercial purposes, an 
aircraft shall be considered to be a public aircraft without regard to 
whether it is operated by a unit of government on behalf of another unit 
of government pursuant to a cost reimbursement agreement, if the unit of 
government on whose behalf the operation is conducted certifies to the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration that the operation 
was necessary to respond to a significant and imminent threat to life or 
property (including natural resources) and that no service by a private 
operator was reasonably available to meet the threat.
    Serious injury means any injury which: (1) Requires hospitalization 
for more than 48 hours, commencing within 7 days from the date of the 
injury was received; (2) results in a fracture of any bone (except 
simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose); (3) causes severe 
hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage; (4) involves any internal 
organ; or (5) involves second- or third-degree burns, or any burns 
affecting more than 5 percent of the body surface.
    Substantial damage means damage or failure which adversely affects 
the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the 
aircraft, and which would normally require major repair or replacement 
of the affected component. Engine failure or damage limited to an engine 
if only one engine fails or is damaged, bent fairings or cowling, dented 
skin, small punctured holes in the skin or fabric, ground damage to 
rotor or propeller blades, and damage to landing gear, wheels, tires, 
flaps, engine accessories, brakes, or wingtips are not considered 
``substantial damage'' for the purpose of this part.

[53 FR 36982, Sept. 23, 1988, as amended at 60 FR 40112, Aug. 7, 1995]