What are the Part 107 emergency procedures?

Under 14 CFR 107.21, the remote pilot in command may deviate from any Part 107 rule to the extent necessary to respond to an in-flight emergency. The priority order the exam rewards is: fly the aircraft, protect people on the ground first, then protect property. If the deviation was needed, you must send a written report to the FAA on request.

Can you break Part 107 rules in an emergency?

Yes. Section 107.21 explicitly allows the PIC to deviate from the operating rules of Part 107 as far as needed to meet an emergency. This is a deliberate safety valve — the FAA would rather you exceed 400 feet or leave visual line of sight to avoid a collision than rigidly follow a rule into a crash.

What should you do first if your drone loses GPS or link?

Know your aircraft's lost-link behavior before you fly (return-to-home, hover, or land) and pick the safest option for your site in the preflight. If the drone starts drifting toward people, act immediately to move it away or bring it down in the safest available area; protecting people outranks saving the aircraft.

When do you have to report a drone accident to the FAA?

Within 10 calendar days, if the operation resulted in serious injury, loss of consciousness, or at least $500 of damage to property other than the aircraft (repair or fair-market replacement cost). Below those thresholds, no report is required.

Does a battery warning count as an emergency?

It's the trigger, not the emergency itself. Treat a low-battery or critical-battery warning as a cue to land promptly in a safe area rather than pushing the mission. It only becomes a 107.21 emergency if landing normally would endanger people — then you deviate as needed to protect them.

ADM / 10 SCENARIOS

Part 107 / Aeronautical decision-making

Part 107 emergency decision trainer

Practice the first move when a normal flight stops being normal. Ten branching scenarios separate immediate emergencies from urgent abnormalities, routine aborts, and post-event duties.

Start the scenario drill

The controlling distinction

Emergency authority is narrow.

Section 107.21 applies only to an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action. It permits a Part 107 deviation only to the extent necessary to meet that emergency.

Read 14 CFR 107.21

Immediate action

Protect crewed aircraft, people, property, and the ability to contain the drone. The first move should reduce the live hazard.

Necessary extent

A deviation is not blanket permission. Stop deviating when the emergency no longer requires it, then terminate or stabilize.

Two reporting paths

A 107.21 deviation report is written only upon FAA request. A qualifying 107.9 safety event report is a separate mandatory duty.

Free interactive practice

Make the first call, then work the stack.

Each decision earns 0 to 3 priority points. Feedback appears immediately, followed by the full response order, rule boundary, and a changed-condition variation.

Progress and best scores stay in this browser until you reset them.

Source discipline

Train from the official baseline.

Aircraft procedures vary by platform. Build the manufacturer checklist, site plan, and crew briefing around the FAA rules and the specific system you operate.

14 CFR 107.21, in-flight emergencyThe controlling rule for immediate-action emergencies, necessary deviations, and requested written reports.FAA Remote Pilot Study GuideOfficial Part 107 study material for emergency procedures, ADM, weather, performance, and operations.FAA Part 107 operating requirementsThe FAA overview for right of way, VLOS, aircraft condition, and safety event reporting.FAA Remote ID guidanceThe compliance baseline used with the Part 89 in-flight broadcast-failure scenarios.FAA operations over peopleCategory and moving-vehicle context for site incursions and routine go-around decisions.

Part 107 emergency procedures: FAQ

What are the Part 107 emergency procedures?: Under 14 CFR 107.21, the remote pilot in command may deviate from any Part 107 rule to the extent necessary to respond to an in-flight emergency. The priority order the exam rewards is: fly the aircraft, protect people on the ground first, then protect property. If the deviation was needed, you must send a written report to the FAA on request.
Can you break Part 107 rules in an emergency?: Yes. Section 107.21 explicitly allows the PIC to deviate from the operating rules of Part 107 as far as needed to meet an emergency. This is a deliberate safety valve — the FAA would rather you exceed 400 feet or leave visual line of sight to avoid a collision than rigidly follow a rule into a crash.
What should you do first if your drone loses GPS or link?: Know your aircraft's lost-link behavior before you fly (return-to-home, hover, or land) and pick the safest option for your site in the preflight. If the drone starts drifting toward people, act immediately to move it away or bring it down in the safest available area; protecting people outranks saving the aircraft.
When do you have to report a drone accident to the FAA?: Within 10 calendar days, if the operation resulted in serious injury, loss of consciousness, or at least $500 of damage to property other than the aircraft (repair or fair-market replacement cost). Below those thresholds, no report is required.
Does a battery warning count as an emergency?: It's the trigger, not the emergency itself. Treat a low-battery or critical-battery warning as a cue to land promptly in a safe area rather than pushing the mission. It only becomes a 107.21 emergency if landing normally would endanger people — then you deviate as needed to protect them.

Training aid only. It does not replace current regulations, authorizations, waiver conditions, manufacturer procedures, local emergency plans, or event-specific direction from the FAA or NTSB.