Under 14 CFR 107.9, the remote pilot in command must report to the FAA within 10 calendar days of the operation if it involved serious injury to anyone, a loss of consciousness, or damage to property other than the drone itself above a $500 threshold. The report goes in a manner acceptable to the Administrator.
What triggers a report
Two kinds of event qualify:
- Serious injury to any person, or a loss of consciousness.
- Damage to property other than the small unmanned aircraft, unless a $500 exception applies.
The $500 exception works two ways. There is no report if the cost to repair the property, including materials and labor, is $500 or less. There is also no report if the property's fair market value is $500 or less in the event of a total loss.
Damage to your own drone does not trigger the rule. Damage to a car, a roof, a fence or a neighbor's drone can.
Who files and by when
The remote pilot in command files. The deadline is no later than 10 calendar days after the operation. Calendar days include weekends, so a Friday incident is due ten days later, not ten business days.
The text says to file in a manner acceptable to the Administrator. The method is not spelled out in the regulation, so use the channel the FAA currently directs.
Build a fast internal process
A rule with a 10 day clock punishes slow teams. A simple process helps:
- The same day: the pilot writes a short note of what happened, with time, place, injuries and damage. Take photos.
- Within two days: the manager decides whether the event meets the thresholds, keeping the threshold wording in the template.
- Within a week: file the report or record the reasoning for not filing.
- Keep the telemetry log, video and any Remote ID data for the flight with the incident file.
Treat unclear cases as reportable until someone has measured the damage. A repair quote can take longer than 10 days to arrive.
Data you will want
An accident review is easier with logs. Flight controllers record position, altitude, battery and mode changes. If your fleet uses a ground station app, make sure logs are not overwritten, and set a retention period for them. Restrict who can edit or delete incident logs, because an edited log damages your credibility.
What this post cannot tell you
This post covers the reporting rule in 107.9 as the regulation states it. Insurance, state law and customer contract terms often have their own notice periods, and those may be shorter than 10 days. Check them separately.
Quick check
Does damage to my own drone have to be reported?
No. The property damage trigger covers property other than the small unmanned aircraft. Serious injury or loss of consciousness is reportable regardless.
Who has to file the report?
The remote pilot in command, no later than 10 calendar days after the operation.
Sources
- 14 CFR 107.9, eCFR: accident reporting.
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026.
