Benefits / Resources / Articles
February 11, 2019

Drone crashed… Now what?

Let's be real - accidents happen, even to the most seasoned drone operators. A drone can crash due to an unexpected gust of wind, a bird that comes out of nowhere, or simply because you were distracted. However, there are certain situations that must be reported to the FAA.

Section 107.9 states:

No later than 10 days after an operation that meets the criteria of either paragraph (a) or (b) of this section, a remote pilot in command must report to the Federal Aviation Administration in a manner acceptable to the Administrator, any operation of the small unmanned aircraft involving at least:

  1. Serious injury to any person or any loss of consciousness; or
  2. Damage to any property, other than the small unmanned aircraft, unless one of the following conditions is satisfied:
    1. The cost of repair (including materials and labor) does not exceed $500; or
    2. The fair market value of the property does not exceed $500 in the event of total loss.

The rule basically states that if a person is hurt, or some sort of property damage occurs due to the drone crashing, you must file a report with the FAA within 10 days of the incident. All accident reports can be filed at the FAA website.

Read more on Professional Photographer Magazine. As always, stay informed on all things drones at PPA's Drone Knowledge Center

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