---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 450.173"
title: "14"
number: "450.173"
heading: "Mishap plan—reporting, response, and investigation requirements."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/450.173"
---

# §450.173. Mishap plan—reporting, response, and investigation requirements.

- (a) **General.** An operator must report, respond to, and investigate mishaps, as defined in [§ 401.7](/cfr/14/401.7.md) of this chapter, in accordance with [paragraphs (b) through (g)](#b..g) of this section using a plan or other written means.
- (b) **Responsibilities.** An operator must document—
  - (1) Responsibilities for personnel assigned to implement the requirements of this section;
  - (2) Reporting responsibilities for personnel assigned to conduct investigations and for anyone retained by the operator to conduct or participate in investigations; and
  - (3) Allocation of roles and responsibilities between the launch operator and any site operator for reporting, responding to, and investigating any mishap during ground activities at the site.
- (c) **Mishap reporting requirements.** An operator must—
  - (1) Immediately notify the FAA Washington Operations Center in case of a mishap that involves a fatality or serious injury (as defined in [49 CFR 830.2](/cfr/49/830.2.md));
  - (2) Notify within 24 hours the FAA Washington Operations Center in the case of a mishap that does not involve a fatality or serious injury (as defined in [49 CFR 830.2](/cfr/49/830.2.md)); and
  - (3) Submit a written preliminary report to the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation within five days of any mishap. The preliminary report must include the following information, as applicable:
    - (i) Date and time of the mishap;
    - (ii) Description of the mishap and sequence of events leading to the mishap, to the extent known;
    - (iii) Intended and actual location of the launch or reentry or other landing on Earth;
    - (iv) Hazardous debris impact points, including those outside a planned landing site or designated hazard area;
    - (v) Identification of the vehicle;
    - (vi) Identification of any payload;
    - (vii) Number and general description of any fatalities or injuries;
    - (viii) Description and estimated costs of any property damage;
    - (ix) Identification of hazardous materials, as defined in [§ 401.7](/cfr/14/401.7.md) of this chapter, involved in the event, whether on the vehicle, any payload, or on the ground;
    - (x) Action taken by any person to contain the consequences of the event;
    - (xi) Weather conditions at the time of the event; and
    - (xii) **Potential consequences for other similar vehicles, systems, or operations.**
- (d) **Emergency response requirements.** An operator must—
  - (1) Activate emergency response services to protect the public and property following a mishap as necessary including, but not limited to:
    - (i) Evacuating and rescuing members of the public, taking into account debris dispersion and toxic plumes; and
    - (ii) Extinguishing fires;
  - (2) Maintain existing hazard area surveillance and clearance as necessary to protect public safety;
  - (3) **Contain and minimize the consequences of a mishap, including—**
    - (i) Securing impact areas to ensure that no members of the public enter;
    - (ii) Safely disposing of hazardous materials; and
    - (iii) **Controlling hazards at the site or impact areas.**
  - (4) Preserve data and physical evidence; and
  - (5) Implement agreements with government authorities and emergency response services, as necessary, to satisfy the requirements of this section.
- (e) **Mishap investigation requirements.** In the event of a mishap, an operator must—
  - (1) Investigate the root causes of the mishap; and
  - (2) **Report investigation results to the FAA.**
- (f) **Preventative measures.** An operator must identify and implement preventive measures for avoiding recurrence of the mishap prior to the next flight, unless otherwise approved by the Administrator.
- (g) **Mishap records.** An operator must maintain records associated with the mishap in accordance with [§ 450.219(b)](/cfr/14/450.219.md?p=b).
- (h) **Application requirements.** An applicant must submit the plan or other written means required by this section.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 51 U.S.C. 50901-50923.

### Source

Source: Docket No. FAA-2019-0229, Amdt. 450-2, 85 FR 79719, Dec. 10, 202085 FR 79739, Dec. 10, 2020, unless otherwise noted.