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(a) Except as provided in the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990, and paragraphs (b) and (c), a person must not access, interfere with, or remove, an aircraft or its contents that is involved in an accident unless authorised to do so by the Authority.
(b) Subject to the limitations contained in the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990, the Authority may, for the purpose of its investigation, access, inspect, secure, or remove, an aircraft or its contents that is involved in an accident.
(c) A person may, subject to paragraph (d)—
(1) remove persons or livestock from the aircraft or wreckage; or
(2) protect the aircraft, wreckage, or contents, including mail or cargo, from further damage; or
(3) disconnect or deactivate any cockpit voice recorder, flight data recorder, or emergency location transmitter; or
(4) prevent obstruction to the public or to air navigation where no practical alternative is available.
(d) Any aircraft wreckage, mail, or cargo removed under paragraph (c) must—
(1) be moved only so far as necessary to ensure its safety; and
(2) be kept in separate distinct areas to indicate from which part in the aircraft it has been taken; and
(3) where possible, have sketches, descriptive notes, and photographs made of their original position and any significant impact marks.
(a) The holder of a certificate of registration of an aircraft that is involved in a serious incident or accident must preserve all records, including all recording media maintained for the operation and maintenance of the aircraft, for at least 14 days after the serious incident or accident unless otherwise notified by the Authority.
(b) The holder of a certificate issued in accordance with—
(1) Part 171 that is involved in a facility malfunction incident or an accident; or
(2) Part 172 that is involved in an airspace incident or an accident; or
(3) Part 173 that is involved in a promulgated information incident or an accident;
must preserve all records, including log entries, electronic recordings, technical and other relevant data relating to the incident or accident for at least 14 days after the incident or accident unless otherwise notified by the Authority.
(c) A person who is involved in a promulgated information incident or an accident involving responsibilities under Part 95 must preserve all records, including log entries, electronic recordings, technical and other relevant data relating to the incident or accident for at least 14 days after the incident or accident unless otherwise notified by the Authority.
A holder of a certificate of registration for an aircraft, and a holder of a certificate issued in accordance with Part 145, Part 146, or Part 148 who is required to submit a defect incident report to the Authority under rule 12.59(2) must retain the defective product or component that is associated with the defect incident for a period of at least 14 days after submitting the report unless otherwise notified by the Authority.
