FAA Military Competency Practice Exam

What incident requires immediate notification to the NTSB?

1. Landing gear malfunction

2. Any required flight crewmember unable to perform duties due to illness

3. Pilot disputes with passengers

4. Fuel exhaustion during flight

The correct answer is: Any required flight crewmember unable to perform duties due to illness

Notification to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is required for specific incidents that may impact safety, and one of the primary criteria is the incapacitation of a required flight crewmember. If any flight crew member is unable to perform their duties due to illness, this situation has the potential to compromise flight safety significantly. The NTSB needs to be notified to gather information and assess the incident's implications, as it can lead to further investigations on whether regulations were followed, the condition of the crew member, and possible preventive measures. In this context, landing gear malfunctions and fuel exhaustion during flight, while serious, do not automatically necessitate immediate notification to the NTSB unless they result in an accident or significantly affect the operation. Pilot disputes with passengers, while they might create operational disruptions, are not incidents that trigger mandatory NTSB notification, focusing instead on the safety of flight operations and crew competence.