# EU Accident and Incident Framework: Regulations 376/2014 and 996/2010

> Understand how EU regulations 376/2014 and 996/2010 complement each other for occurrence reporting, investigation independence, and just culture.

- **Subject:** 010 — Air Law
- **Section:** 010-13 — Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation
- **Topic code:** 010-13-03
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-03-27
- **Author:** Pablo Asensio Martínez
- **HTML version:** https://pilotsyllabus.com/en/air-law/aircraft-accident-and-incident-investigation/accident-and-incident-investigation-in-eu-regulations/

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## Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 (Occurrence Reporting)
This regulation complements accident investigation by improving **data collection and analysis**.

*   **Objective:** To improve aviation safety by ensuring that relevant safety information is reported, collected, stored, protected, exchanged, disseminated and analysed (not to apportion blame).
*   **Mandatory Reporting:**
    *   Occurrences which may represent a significant risk.
    *   Timeframe: **72 hours** of becoming aware of the occurrence (unless exceptional circumstances).
    *   Applies to: Structural defects, system malfunctions, maintenance problems, bird strikes, etc.

## Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 (Investigation)
Regulates the investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation in the EU.
*   Confirms the definitions of Accident and Serious Incident.
*   Establishes the independence of safety investigation authorities.

## Relationship between Regulations
*   **996/2010:** Focuses on deep **investigation** of specific events (accidents/serious incidents).
*   **376/2014:** Focuses on the **reporting** system (broad database) for statistical and preventive analysis.

> **Just Culture:** Reports should not be used to attribute blame or liability, but to learn, protecting the reporter's identity.

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