14 C.F.R. § 415.41 Accident investigation plan.
Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space
(a) An applicant shall submit an accident investigation plan (AIP) containing the applicant's procedures for reporting and responding to launch accidents, launch incidents, or other mishaps, as defined in §401.5 of this chapter. The AIP shall be signed by an individual authorized to sign and certify the application in accordance with §413.7(c) of this chapter, and the safety official designated under §415.33(b) of this subpart. (b) Reporting requirements. An AIP shall provide for— (1) Immediate notification to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Washington Operations Center in case of a launch accident, a launch incident or a mishap that involves a fatality or serious injury (as defined in 49 CFR §830.2). (2) Notification within 24 hours to the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Washington Operations Center in the event of a mishap, other than those in §415.41 (b) (1), that does not involve a fatality or serious injury (as defined in 49 CFR 830.2). (3) Submission of a written preliminary report to the FAA, Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, in the event of a launch accident or launch incident, as defined in §401.5 of this chapter, within five days of the event. The report shall identify the event as either a launch accident or launch incident, and shall include the following information: (i) Date and time of occurrence; (ii) Description of event; (iii) Location of launch; (iv) Launch vehicle; (v) Any payload; (vi) Vehicle impact points outside designated impact lines, if applicable; (vii) Number and general description of any injuries; (viii) Property damage, if any, and an estimate of its value; (ix) Identification of hazardous materials, as defined in §401.5 of this chapter, involved in the event, whether on the launch vehicle, payload, or on the ground; (x) Action taken by any person to contain the consequences of the event; and (xi) Weather conditions at the time of the event. (c) Response plan. An AIP shall contain procedures that— (1) Ensure the consequences of a launch accident, launch incident or other mishap are contained and minimized; (2) Ensure data and physical evidence is preserved; (3) Require the licensee to report to and cooperate with FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigations and designate one or more points of contact for the FAA or NTSB; and (4) Require the licensee to identify and adopt preventive measures for avoiding recurrence of the event. (d) Investigation plan. An AIP shall contain— (1) Procedures for investigating the cause of a launch accident, launch incident or other mishap; (2) Procedures for reporting investigation results to the FAA; and (3) Delineated responsibilities, including reporting responsibilities for personnel assigned to conduct investigations and for any one retained by the licensee to conduct or participate in investigations.
Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 415—LAUNCH LICENSE
Subpart C—Safety Review and Approval for Launch From a Federal Launch Range
§ 415.41 Accident investigation plan.
