ENR 1.14  Air Traffic Incidents

1.14.1   Definition of air traffic incidents

1. ACCIDENT:

A safety occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which, in the case of a manned aircraft, takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked, or in the case of unmanned aircraft, takes place between the time the aircraft is ready to move with the purpose of flight until such time it comes to rest at the end of the flight and the primary propulsion system is shut down, in which:

  1. A person is fatally or seriously injured as a result of:
    1. being in the aircraft, or
    2. direct contact with any part of the aircraft, including parts which have become detached from the aircraft, or
    3. direct exposure to jet blast,

    except when the injuries are from natural causes, self inflicted or inflicted by other persons, or when the injuries are to stowaways hiding outside the areas normally available to the passengers and crew; or

  2. The aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component, except for engine failure or damage, when the damage is limited to a single engine, (including its cowlings or accessories), to propellers, wing tips, antennas, probes, vanes, tires, brakes, wheels, fairings, panels, landing gear doors, windscreens, the aircraft skin (such as small dents or puncture holes) or minor damages to main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, landing gear, and those resulting from hail or bird strike, (including holes in the radome); or
  3. The aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible.

2. SERIOUS INCIDENT

An incident involving circumstances indicating that there was a high probability of an accident and is associated with the operation of an aircraft, which in the case of a manned aircraft, takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked, or in the case of an unmanned aircraft, takes place between the time the aircraft is ready to move with the purpose of flight until such time it comes to rest at the end of the flight and the primary propulsion system is shut down.

List of Examples of Serious Incidents

The incidents listed below are typical examples of incidents that are likely to be serious incidents. The list is not exhaustive and only serves as a guidance to the definition of ‘serious incident’.

3. INCIDENT:

A safety occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affects or could affect the safety of operation.

4. OCCURRENCE:

Means any safety-related event which endangers or which, if not corrected or addressed, could endanger an aircraft, its occupants or any other person and includes in particular an accident or serious incident;

1.14.2   Use of the “Air Traffic Incident Reporting Form”

Obligation to notify accidents, serious incidents, incidents and occurrences

Regulation (EU) Number 996/2010 of European Parliament and of the Council

Decree-Law 318/99, of 11 August and Decree-law 218//2005 of 12 December

1.14.3   Reporting procedures

Reports shall be addressed to:

GPIAAF - Gabinete de Prevenção e Investigação de Acidentes com Aeronaves e de Acidentes Ferroviários
Unidade de Aviação Civil/Civil Aviation Unit

For contacts see GEN 1.1.8

And also:

ANAC - Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil

For further contacts see GEN 1.1.1

The Accident Reports must be addressed to GPIAAF and ANAC, within 6 hours after the occurrence. Incident Reports should be addressed to GPIAAF and ANAC within 48 hours after.

The Reports should be send in paper form to these addresses (also shown on the top of the “AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT/INCIDENT REPORT” form) or directly by internet using the electronic form available at:

The distribution of the on-line notification is made automatically to both entities.

The paper form is available at national AIS and ARO units at aerodromes, and also as an editable form in GPIAAF web site. Guidance on how to fill the form, if needed is also available at GPIAAF website.

1.14.4   Purpose of reporting and handling of the form

The purpose of the form “Aircraft Accident/Incident Report” (Notificação de Acidente/Incidente com Aeronaves) shown on next pages is to provide the national accident investigation authority, GPIAAF, with complete information on occurrences in order to determine their circumstances and probable causes, concerning the preservation of life and the avoidance of accidents and incidents in the future. It is not the purpose of the safety investigation to apportion blame or liability.

It also provides the same data to the national aeronautical authority, ANAC, with the objective of contributing to the improvement of air safety by ensuring that relevant information on safety is reported, collected, stored, protected and disseminated. The sole objective of occurrence reporting is the prevention of accidents and incidents and not to attribute blame or liability.

Figure 1.  Aircraft Accident/Incident Report