If you have read an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation, research, or statistical report in the past 12 months the ATSB wants to hear from you.

The ATSB is an operationally independent bureau within the Australian Government Department of Transport and Regional Services and is Australia prime agency for transport safety investigations. It is entirely separate from transport regulators and service providers; The Bureau investigates and produces reports and statistics on all modes of transport: rail, sea, air and road.

The ATSB has commissioned Colmar Brunton to conduct a survey on its behalf so that it can better understand your needs and find out how satisfied you are with reports published by the Bureau.

The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

Responses to the survey are anonymous and confidential, and Colmar Brunton will only provide the ATSB with their analysis of the responses to ensure that readers are able to provide honest and complete feedback.

Questions about the survey can be directed to 1800 020 616.

On 11 January 2001, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau advised that it had commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the omission by Ansett Australia to undertake specified maintenance requirements for Boeing 767 aircraft [Media Release]. This situation was regarded as having the potential to affect adversely the safety of aviation and was a safety deficiency. Accordingly, a safety deficiency investigation was commenced. The investigation is continuing with the full cooperation of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the United States Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing and Ansett Australia.

On 9 April, the ATSB was notified that cracks had been located during inspections of the engine pylon wing attachment fittings on Boeing 767 aircraft operated by Ansett. These fittings were the subject of a Boeing Service Bulletin issued on 2 March 2000.

The safety deficiency investigation that was commenced on 11January2001, has been extended today and will include an examination of procedures for the control of the continuing airworthiness of Class A aircraft, which includes the Boeing 767. The examination will include a review of procedures employed by manufacturers, regulatory and certifying authorities and airline operators.

The ATSB wishes to thank the many people who have participated in our readership survey over the last week. If you have not yet participated, but wish to, you only have a few more days. The survey concludes this Sunday 10 June.

Please follow this link to have your say about ATSB reports: http://surveys.cbr.com.au/atsb(Opens in a new tab/window) "CLOSED"

We encourage you to take this opportunity to provide us with your valuable feedback. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's prime air safety investigation agency. It conducts independent investigations of civil aviation accidents, incidents and safety deficiencies.

The former Bureau of Air Safety Investigation (BASI) no longer exists.

The ATSB was formed almost two years ago as a multi-modal safety bureau and incorporated the functions of the former BASI. Part of its mission is to maintain and improve transport safety and public confidence through excellence in open and 'independent' no-blame systemic transport accident, incident and deficiency investigation.

The ATSB has statutory powers for aviation and marine investigation independent of parties that may be the subject of a safety investigation such as operators, manufacturers, service providers and regulators.

The ATSB's other safety roles include statistical analysis and research, coordination of the national road safety strategy and responsibility for the Black Spot Road Safety Program and Vehicle Recall Unit.

Contacts

24-hour Information Hotline: 1800 020 616
Aviation Accident Notification Hotline: 1800 011 034

Today the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released its report on the contaminated aviation gasoline (Avgas) investigation that followed the grounding of thousands of piston engine aircraft across eastern Australia in January 2000.

The investigation found that a very small amount of an anti-corrosion chemical that was not removed in Mobil's avgas refining process in late 1999, and not detected by the usual tests, led to the safety problem.

The ATSB has made 24 separate recommendations that include recommended safety actions for Mobil Oil Australia, US and UK fuel standards bodies, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and other Australian regulatory organisations.

ATSB Executive Director Kym Bills said, "The scale of the avgas contamination was an unprecedented event anywhere in the world and was unexpected in such a mature industry as fuel refining. As a result, it caught the refiner and regulators by surprise. The investigation highlighted certain deficiencies in international fuel standards."

The investigation found that a temporary variation in the production process at Mobil's Altona refinery in late 1999 involving problems with reduced caustic wash and increased acid carry over, led to an increased dosage of an alkaline anti-corrosion chemical by a contractor. This was not totally removed from the final avgas. The normal tests for the quality of avgas did not pick up the very small concentration of the chemical contaminant in the avgas that was sufficient to react with brass in aircraft fuel systems and form a black 'gunk' that clogged them.

A number of warning signs and system deficiencies that could have been better dealt with by the refiner and other parties are the subject of safety recommendations.

"ATSB's role is not to ascribe 'blame' to any party. It is our task to uncover the facts including all of the significant contributory factors (including weaknesses in defences), and then to publish findings and recommendations as we have done today.

"As with all ATSB's investigations, it is important that relevant parties learn from these safety deficiencies and act promptly on the 24 recommendations made by us to reduce the chances of a recurrence, either with Avgas or jet fuel, that could endanger flight safety," Mr Bills said.

The report, Systemic Investigation into Fuel Contamination.

A media conference to provide an update on the progress of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Aero Commander fatal accident on 31 July 2007 will be held on, Friday 3 August 2007

Where: On the road between West Wallan and Clonbinane, East of Monument Hill in Victoria. (37deg 21.4S 145deg 05.8E)

Time: 09:30 local time (Eastern Standard Time)

Mr Alex Hood, the investigator in charge (IIC), will provide an update on the progress of the investigation, including factual information known to the investigation team at this time.

Any person/witness with information about the accident is encouraged to contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616.

No further media briefings will be conducted by the on-site team. After this briefing, all media enquiries must be directed to the media contact listed below.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the accident at Canberra Airport on Sunday 28 January 2001 when four people were fatally injured in a single engine Beech Musketeer.

The aircraft had taken off on runway 30 at approximately 12:15 pm, heading in a westerly direction towards Canberra before it impacted the ground approximately two kilometres west of the airport.

The ATSB would like to speak to anyone who witnessed or heard the accident.

To speak to someone about what you saw please call our 24-hour hotline: 1800 011 034

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is undertaking on-site investigations into the three tragic aircraft accidents that occurred over the January holiday weekend claiming the lives of nine people.

• A Beech 23 Musketeer crashed shortly after take-off from Canberra Airport resulting in fatal injuries to all four occupants.
• A Pitts Special crashed while conducting aerobatic manoeuvres near Brisbane - the sole occupant was fatally injured.
• A Cessna 310 crashed north-east of Newman, Western Australia during a night flight - the four occupants were fatally injured.

ATSB Safety Investigators have attended all sites, and today will remove components of each aircraft for further analysis.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recent omission by Ansett to undertake specified maintenance requirements for Boeing 767 aircraft. This situation can reasonably be regarded as having the potential to affect adversely the safety of aviation and is therefore a safety deficiency.

The safety deficiency investigation will include examination of:

• Boeing aircraft airworthiness
• Ansett's maintenance quality assurance system, and
• CASA's systems for compliance, including procedures delegating responsibilities to airlines for regulatory compliance.

This investigation is separate to the regulatory compliance investigation being undertaken by CASA.

Additional information added on 12 January 2001 in response to inquiries

Boeing aircraft airworthiness refers to the relationship between the manufacturer and the airline operator to ensure the maintenance of continuing airworthiness.

Failure to keep proper lookouts aboard the Liberian woodchip carrier Craig The Pioneer and the Australian prawn trawler May Bell II resulted in a collision between the two vessels east of Newcastle at 0157 on 9 October 1999, according to the report of the investigation into the accident released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) today.

The collision occurred in fine weather conditions as the crew of the trawler was recovering its nets. The bow of the trawler was damaged, but its crew suffered no injuries and the vessel returned safely to Sydney. The trawler was well illuminated at the time, but watchkeepers on the ship had not sighted it visually or by radar and denied any knowledge of the incident.

An analysis of paint samples taken from both vessels, made with the assistance of the Australian Federal Police, led to the conclusion that the ship had collided with the fishing vessel.

In addition, the report concluded that neither vessel was keeping a proper lookout and that the vision of the crew of the trawler was significantly impaired by the bright lights in use at the time.

The report highlights the Inspector of Marine Accidents' concern that there have been fourteen other collisions involving fishing vessels and trading ships in Australian waters. It states that radar reflectors or similar devices fitted to fishing vessels would increase the likelihood of their being detected by ships' radars.

The ATSB and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority are conducting trials of active radar reflectors with the aim of encouraging their use in fishing vessels.

The ATSB report is available from this website Report 151.