Practice test
Unit 6 · Regulations · Lesson 6 of 6

Alcohol, oxygen and accident reporting

8 min readLesson 29 of 59

By the end of this lesson you'll be able to:
  • State the alcohol rules for pilots
  • Know when supplemental oxygen is required
  • Know when to notify the NTSB

Alcohol and drugs (91.17)

No one may act as a crewmember:

  • Within 8 hours after drinking any alcohol ("8 hours bottle to throttle").
  • While under the influence of alcohol.
  • With a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more.
  • While using any drug that affects their faculties in a way contrary to safety.

Except in an emergency, a pilot may not carry a passenger who appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. The FAA's guidance is that many pilots should wait well beyond 8 hours, since impairment and hangovers can last longer. Over-the-counter medicines can be disqualifying too; check with an AME if you're unsure.

Supplemental oxygen (91.211)

Cabin pressure altitudeRequirement
Above 12,500 ft MSL up to and including 14,000 ft MSLRequired flight crew must use oxygen for any part of the flight at those altitudes longer than 30 minutes
Above 14,000 ft MSLRequired flight crew must use oxygen the entire time
Above 15,000 ft MSLEvery occupant must be provided with oxygen

Hypoxia can start well below these altitudes, especially at night. Unit 13 covers how it feels and why it's sneaky.

Accidents and incidents (NTSB Part 830)

The operator must immediately notify the nearest NTSB office after an accident (serious injury, death or substantial damage) and after certain serious incidents, including a flight control system malfunction, a crewmember unable to perform duties because of injury or illness, an in-flight fire, a collision in flight, and an aircraft that is overdue and believed to have been in an accident.

A written report (NTSB Form 6120.1) is due within 10 days after an accident, or after 7 days if an overdue aircraft is still missing. For an incident, a report is only filed if the NTSB asks for it.

Key takeaways

  • Alcohol: 8 hours, not under the influence, below 0.04 BAC.
  • Oxygen: crew after 30 min above 12,500; crew always above 14,000; everyone provided above 15,000.
  • Accidents: notify the NTSB immediately; written report within 10 days.

What the examiner may ask

Practice answering out loud before you open each answer.

Can you fly 9 hours after drinking?
Legally, only if you're not under the influence and your BAC is below 0.04. The 8-hour rule is a minimum; many pilots use 12 to 24 hours.
When is oxygen required?
Crew above 12,500 ft up to 14,000 ft for more than 30 minutes; crew at all times above 14,000 ft; passengers provided oxygen above 15,000 ft (91.211).
What's the difference between an accident and an incident?
An accident involves serious injury, death or substantial damage. An incident is any other occurrence affecting safety. Certain serious incidents need immediate NTSB notification.

Common mistakes

  • Treating 8 hours as the only alcohol test.
  • Ignoring cold and allergy medications that cause drowsiness.
  • Not knowing which events need NTSB notification.

Read it in the FAA sources

PHAK · Chapter 17Aeromedical FactorsOpens the PHAK at this chapter ↗14 CFR 91.17Alcohol or drugsOfficial eCFR text ↗14 CFR 91.211Supplemental oxygenOfficial eCFR text ↗

Go deeper on the site

Prep: High-Altitude Operations: Oxygen and Pressurization

Lesson check

Get every question right to complete the lesson. Take your time; wrong answers explain why.

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