B763 cargo losing panel and definition of accident

[A0283]

https://avherald.com/h?article=51a205a7&opt=0

B763 loses a a panel and has to return. Unable to use speedbrakes. Normal landing.

So no fatalities, no injuries …
Suppose just some loose bolts, translate that to minor damage …
Which would normally (by definition) translate into an incident rating.
So why rate this an accident?. Do we translate anything falling from an aircraft as an accident? Or only if the object has the potential to kill? Or has this happened before and the NTSB decides to spend more time on it?

[OldnGrounded]

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) define an accident as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and all such persons have disembarked, AND in which any person suffers death or serious injury or in which the aircraft receives substantial damage. The NTSB regulations (49 CFR part 830) define "serious injury" and "substantial damage" as follows:

“Serious injury means any injury which: (1) Requires hospitalization for more than 48 hours, commencing within 7 days from the date of the injury was received; (2) results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose); (3) causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage; (4) involves any internal organ; or (5) involves second- or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting more than 5 percent of the body surface.”

“Substantial damage means damage or failure which adversely affects the structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and which would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component. Engine failure or damage limited to an engine if only one engine fails or is damaged, bent fairings or cowling, dented skin, small punctured holes in the skin or fabric, ground damage to rotor or propeller blades, and damage to landing gear, wheels, tires, flaps, engine accessories, brakes, or wingtips are not considered “substantial damage” for the purpose of this part.”

https://www.faa.gov/faq/what-constitutes-post-accident-test-what-definition-accident

[ATC Watcher]

Aircraft damaged is an accident , not at incident per ( ICAO) definition. Reason is that
accidents must be investigated. Incidents not necessarily, decision left to investigating authority .

[DaveReidUK]

Aircraft damaged is an accident, not at incident per (ICAO) definition.

Aircraft substantially damaged is the ICAO definition (as per the FAA/NTSB definition quoted above).

[FUMR]

Maybe it was substantially damaged! Do we know? The relevant authorities do and therefore they have deemed it an accident!

[tdracer]

Educated guess is that it hit a part of the tail on its way - even if it didn't do serious damage to the tail, the potential is there for catastrophic damage whenever large bits strike the tail.
But since they didn't specify the panel that departed, it's hard to do other than guess.
Just waiting for the breathless headlines about parts falling off Boeing's again - never mind that the Cargojet 767F fleet is very high time, well used aircraft.

[WillowRun 6-3]

ICAO, Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention of 1944:

Annex 13 defines an accident as an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft: in which a person is fatally or seriously injured; in which an aircraft sustains damage or structural failure requiring repairs; after which the aircraft in question is classified as being missing.