The FAA WILL investigate an occurrence, incident or accident to see if there are any violations of 14 CFR, even if they are not related at all to the original occurrence/situation (like airplane had an invalid registration). That's not due to over-staffing or bloated FSDOs, it's just the responsibility as the regulating and certificating entity. A pilot doesn't need to go "telling the FAA" about everything they do, the reporting requirements are in 49 CFR 830 for the NTSB, but the FAA retains the ability to look at records and documents and has a responsibility to ensure people are out there operating safe and by the regulations. Obviously the FAA "wants" to know of anything that happens to determine whether the certificate holder should continue to hold that certificate, whether or not there are safety concerns with the aircraft being used or how it was used, and whether or not the operations being conducted were "safe". These are responsibilities of the FAA. Keep in mind there are "eyes" out there in many places. Not looking to "catch" anyone, just looking to ensure the above.

That "6 suits" part of the article is pure conjecture/fiction. There is usually only one person assigned to an accident or incident, and most of the time they do it alone, sometimes all from the office and just using an inspector out in the field to collect some data if they are already there. Two is the most I've ever seen at one site at one time, unless it was a big passenger aircraft, like 20 seats or more. It's rare for inspectors to travel to a site unless it's very significant or they are very close, again, much is done from the office. Photos are often shared from the insurance company or NTSB. There's usually so much other work going on that tasking 6 people to gather data that can be done by one or two people just doesn't happen.

Now, there is a potential issue here, it sounds like the pilot has learned that the wing spars were damaged. This is reportable to the NTSB under 830.5 and 830.2 (which defines substantial damage). Most of the time the NTSB will just want to collect some statements and information over the phone. Sometimes after contacting them they will tell you they are not interested in the incident/accident at all and will not classify it as such, even though it meets the technical definition of an "accident". The FAA doesn't have any powers or enforcement authority regarding the reporting of accidents, that lies with the NTSB. It does sound like this may be reportable, which to me means it is until you are told otherwise by the NTSB.

I hope I can make as much money as the article says I make! It's way, way off. The "salary" quoted is for GS-14 (not 13 or 12) step 7 or 8 or so...I've read this article before of course, but these kind of obvious liberties with facts and the exaggerations don't help anyone. I will readily admit that pilots should know a LOT more about how the FAA works, it's responsibilities, how to ensure a fair outcome when anything happens, and so on. Very few people are usually interested in this or teach this unfortunately. Hopefully as with other industries and subjects, the internet and other medias will help to encourage and enable pilots to do this in the future.