Flight below minimum
Pilot not conducting missed approach on two separate occasions saw their aircraft exceed tracking tolerance limits and then lose the required visual reference with the runway
Australia's national transport safety investigator
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Lowest safe altitude
Check lowest safe altitude is appropriate for area of operations
P.68 proposed AD
Proposed AD to mandate rudder hinge inspections of Vulcanair/Partenavia P.68 aircraft
Fatigue fracture
ATSB recommends manufacturer takes further safety action following Cessna 210 overstress fracture and wing separation during low-level survey operation
Remove before flight
Landing gear downlock pins not removed before flight
Fatigue cracking in biplane’s bolts
Eye bolts securing biplane’s upper wings failed due to fatigue cracking
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Flight below minimum safe altitude, Piper PA-31 Mojave, VH-XGW Near Bankstown Airport, New South Wales, on 22 March 2021 - final report
A pilot did not conduct a missed approach on two separate occasions while on an approach to land during which their twin-engined Piper aircraft exceeded tracking tolerance limits and they lost the required visual reference with the runway while operating below the approach minima.
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Flight below lowest safe altitude and ground proximity alert involving Leonardo Helicopters AW139, VH-PVO 44 km north-north-west of Latrobe Regional Airport, Victoria, on 4 March 2021 - final report
On the morning of 4 March 2021, the crew of a Leonardo Helicopters AW139, registered VH-PVO and operated by the Victoria Police Air Wing, were re-assigned from an aerial search near Coldstream to a search and rescue task in Orbost, Victoria. Due to the cloud conditions, the pilot upgraded the flight from visual to instrument flight rules.
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Cabin pressurisation issue involving a De Havilland Canada DHC-8-102, VH-QQD, 83 km north west of Perth Aerodrome, Western Australia, on 20 November 2021 - new investigation
On 20 November 2021, VH-QQD was conducting a scheduled flight from Perth to Port Hedland. During climb, as the aircraft approached 10,000 ft, the crew identified that the cabin had not pressurised. The flight returned to Perth.
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Flight below minimum altitude involving Fokker Aircraft F100, registration VH-NHV, at Paraburdoo Airport, Western Australia, on 22 November 2021 - new invesigation
The ATSB has commenced a transport safety investigation into a flight below minimum altitude involving a Fokker Aircraft F100, registered VH-NHV, at Paraburdoo Airport, Western Australia, on 22 November 2021.
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In-flight break-up involving Cessna T210M, VH-SUX 25 km north east of Mount Isa Airport, Queensland on 26 May 2019 - final report
On the afternoon of 26 May 2019, a Cessna Aircraft Company T210M, registered VH-SUX and operated by Thomson Aviation, departed Mount Isa Airport for an aerial geophysical survey flight with a pilot and observer on board.
Know CO - use an active warning carbon monoxide detector
The ATSB is urging operators and owners of piston-engine aircraft to use an active warning carbon monoxide detector.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless gas, and its presence may not be detected until the physical symptoms and cognitive effects present themselves.
When inhaled, CO preferentially binds to haemoglobin, the oxygen carrying molecule in red blood cells. This creates COHb compounds and prevents oxygen from binding to the molecule and being transported, resulting in oxygen starvation. Symptoms can include breathlessness, confusion, disorientation and incapacitation.