What does §830.10 require operators to do?

What does §830.10 require operators to do?

• A. Preserve wreckage, cargo, and records until NTSB takes custody.
• B. Immediately dispose of wreckage after initial review.
• C. Return all documents to aircraft owners within 24 hours.
• D. Publish a preliminary report within 7 days.

Answer: (A)

Preservation of evidence is what §830.10 is all about. When an aircraft accident or serious incident occurs, investigators need intact wreckage, cargo, and related records to determine what happened and why. This section requires the operator to preserve all such items until the NTSB takes custody. In practice, that means not destroying, discarding, or moving wreckage, cargo, or documents beyond what is necessary for immediate safety, and coordinating with the NTSB so they can assume control of the evidence. This ensures the investigation has reliable material to assess factors like maintenance, loading, and operational procedures, which supports accurate findings and safety recommendations. Actions like disposing of wreckage, returning documents prematurely, or rushing a public report within days would undermine the evidence and are not what this rule requires.

Preservation of evidence is what §830.10 is all about. When an aircraft accident or serious incident occurs, investigators need intact wreckage, cargo, and related records to determine what happened and why. This section requires the operator to preserve all such items until the NTSB takes custody. In practice, that means not destroying, discarding, or moving wreckage, cargo, or documents beyond what is necessary for immediate safety, and coordinating with the NTSB so they can assume control of the evidence.

This ensures the investigation has reliable material to assess factors like maintenance, loading, and operational procedures, which supports accurate findings and safety recommendations. Actions like disposing of wreckage, returning documents prematurely, or rushing a public report within days would undermine the evidence and are not what this rule requires.