§ 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 of this chapter, in accordance with paragraphs (b) through (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);
( 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); 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 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).
( h ) *Application requirements.* An applicant must submit the plan or other written means required by this section.