What to Do After a Drone Crash

Complete emergency response guide for drone accidents in New Zealand - safety, legal requirements, and insurance claims

⚠️ Safety first - check for injuries before dealing with equipment

Emergency Checklist

🚨 Immediate Response Checklist

FIRST 5 MINUTES - Critical Actions

🏥 Safety First

  • ✓ Check for injuries
  • ✓ Call 111 if needed
  • ✓ Secure the area
  • ✓ Check for fire hazards
  • ✓ First aid if qualified

📸 Document Scene

  • ✓ Photograph everything
  • ✓ Video the crash site
  • ✓ Record GPS location
  • ✓ Note time and weather
  • ✓ Collect witness details

📞 Contact Authorities

  • ✓ Police (if injuries/damage)
  • ✓ CAA (if required)
  • ✓ Your insurance company
  • ✓ Property owner
  • ✓ Emergency services

Step-by-Step Response Guide

1

Immediate Safety Assessment (0-2 minutes)

🩹 Human Safety

  • • Check yourself and others for injuries
  • • Call 111 immediately if anyone is hurt
  • • Move injured persons only if further danger exists
  • • Apply first aid if trained and safe to do so
  • • Keep injured persons calm and still

⚠️ Hazard Assessment

  • • Check for fire or smoke from batteries
  • • Look for damaged power lines
  • • Assess structural damage to buildings
  • • Check for fuel leaks or chemical spills
  • • Identify unstable debris
2

Secure the Crash Site (2-5 minutes)

🔒 Area Control

  • • Establish a 10-meter safety perimeter
  • • Direct people away from the crash site
  • • Stop traffic if drone is on a road
  • • Mark hazards with visible warnings
  • • Prevent curious onlookers from approaching

🔋 Equipment Safety

  • • Turn off drone motors if still running
  • • Remove battery if safe and accessible
  • • Place battery in safe, fireproof container
  • • Disconnect any remaining power sources
  • • Do not move damaged batteries
3

Documentation & Evidence (5-15 minutes)

📱 Photography Checklist

Overall Scene:
  • • Wide angle of crash site
  • • Multiple perspectives
  • • Surrounding area
  • • Any property damage
Drone Damage:
  • • Close-up of all damage
  • • Each broken component
  • • Serial numbers if visible
  • • Battery condition
Evidence Details:
  • • Controller display/logs
  • • Weather conditions
  • • Debris field
  • • Impact points

📝 Information to Record

  • • Exact time of crash
  • • GPS coordinates
  • • Weather conditions
  • • Flight mode at time of crash
  • • Battery level before crash
  • • What you were doing when it happened
  • • Any warning messages
  • • Witness contact details
  • • Property owner details
  • • Police incident number (if applicable)
4

Reporting Requirements (15-30 minutes)

⚖️ CAA Reporting Requirements

You MUST report to CAA within 24 hours if:

  • • Anyone was injured
  • • Property damage exceeds $2,000
  • • Aircraft damage prevents safe flight
  • • Crash in controlled airspace
  • • Commercial operation (Part 102)

CAA 24/7 Accident Line: 0508 4 SAFETY (0508 472 338)

🚔 Police Reporting

Contact Police (111) immediately if:

  • • Anyone injured
  • • Significant property damage
  • • Traffic disruption
  • • Criminal activity suspected
  • • Public safety concern

🏢 Other Notifications

  • • Property owner/manager
  • • Your insurance company
  • • Client (if commercial job)
  • • Airfield operator (if applicable)
  • • Local council (if public land)

Insurance Claims Process

📞 Immediate Contact (Within 24 hours)

1
Call your insurer

Report the incident immediately, even outside business hours

2
Get claim reference number

Record all details provided by the claims team

3
Understand next steps

Ask about assessors, repairs, and temporary coverage

📋 Information to Provide

  • • Policy number and details
  • • Date, time, and location of crash
  • • Detailed description of what happened
  • • Weather conditions and visibility
  • • Extent of damage (drone and property)
  • • Any injuries or medical attention
  • • Police report number (if applicable)
  • • Witness contact information
  • • Photos and video evidence
  • • Flight log data if available

💡 Claim Success Tips

Be Honest

Provide complete, accurate information. Fraud can void your entire policy.

Keep Records

Document all communications, save receipts, maintain detailed files.

Follow Up

Stay in contact with your claims handler, respond promptly to requests.

Crash Prevention Tips

✅ Best Practices

  • • Always perform pre-flight checks
  • • Maintain visual line of sight
  • • Check weather conditions thoroughly
  • • Keep firmware updated
  • • Use return-to-home function properly
  • • Monitor battery levels constantly
  • • Practice emergency procedures
  • • Understand your drone's limits

⚠️ Common Causes

  • • Pilot error and inexperience
  • • Low battery or power failure
  • • Strong winds and weather
  • • GPS signal loss
  • • Obstacle collision
  • • Mechanical failure
  • • Software glitches
  • • Loss of radio contact

Emergency Contacts

🚨 Critical Numbers - Save in Your Phone

Emergency Services: 111

Fire, Police, Ambulance

CAA 24/7 Accident Line: 0508 4 SAFETY

(0508 472 338)

Poison Centre: 0800 POISON

(0800 764 766) for chemical spills

Your Insurance Company: _______________

Write your 24/7 claims number here

Local Police Station: _______________

Non-emergency number

Your Part 102 Organisation: _______________

If applicable

Don't Let a Crash Destroy Your Finances

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