[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR830.2]

[Page 185-186]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
           CHAPTER VIII--NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
 
PART 830_NOTIFICATION AND REPORTING OF AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS AND 
 
                            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 than the United States Government,

[[Page 186]]

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]