The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating an occurrence in which a Singapore-bound Emirates Airlines Boeing 777 (flight number UAE69) stopped its take-off from runway 16 at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport when the left engine failed. Initially smoke and flames were visible but the crew reported that there was no fire.

The incident happened at 8:55 pm Eastern Summer Time on 30 January 2001. The aircraft was able to return to the terminal safely where the passengers disembarked normally. There were no reported injuries.

"Preliminary advice suggests that the engine failure may have resulted from a dislodged engine fan blade," Barry Sargeant, Deputy Director, Air Safety Investigation said.

"The investigation will initially entail inspecting the engine to determine the extent of the failure. The flight data recorders will also be analysed to gain a full appreciation of what actually happened. Once we have that information it will be then possible to determine which areas the investigation will need to focus upon. Until we get to that point it is not possible to predict the extent or length of the investigation. In the meantime the ATSB will be working closely with the airline and with the engine manufacturer," Mr Sargeant said.

After the occurrence the runway was closed for inspection and swept for engine debris, which delayed several aircraft for about 15 minutes.

On Wednesday 4 April 2007 at 10.30 am AEST, the ATSB will hold a media conference to release its final investigation report into the Lockhart River accident, in which both pilots and all 13 passengers perished in a regular public transport Metroliner 23 accident.

Mr Kym Bills, Executive Director, ATSB will present and discuss the findings of the final report and associated safety action.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been notified by Western Australian police that at 1645 Western Standard Time on 15November2000 a Gippsland Aeronautics (GA)-200 agricultural aircraft, VH-YPL engaged in aerial spraying was involved in an accident after striking power lines approximately 90NM north-east of Albany.

The pilot, the only occupant of the aircraft, received fatal injuries.

In accordance with Section 19CB(2) of the Air Navigation Act 1920, the ATSB has commenced an investigation into this accident. Investigators will not be attending the accident site.

A media conference will be held this afternoon discussing the progress of the assistance being provided by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) in relation to the download of data from the Garuda aircrafts flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

Where: 15 Mort Street, Canberra City (ATSB Headquarters)
Time: 16:30 local time (ACT)
Who: Mr Kym Bills, Executive Director ATSB

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been notified that a Piper Aerostar VH-NOU, had an engine failure whilst landing at Hay Aerodrome (NSW) this morning, 15 November 2000. The aircraft subsequently collided with an embankment.

Although the aircraft was substantially damaged, both crew members were able to evacuate the aircraft, despite suffering minor injuries.

In accordance with Section 19CB(2) of the Air Navigation Act 1920, the ATSB has commenced an investigation into this accident. Investigators will not be attending the accident site.

The ATSB is conducting a full investigation into the grounding of the Malaysian flag containership 'Bunga Teratai Satu' on Sudbury Reef in the Great Barrier Reef on 2 November 2000.

In line with the essential function of the ATSB, it is a safety investigation conducted to ascertain all the factors which contributed to the incident.

The Navigation (Marine Casualty) Regulations require that, before the report is released, an 'Interested Party Review' occurs, in which all those whose affairs could be effected by the report are given an opportunity to comment on the draft of the report and to make submissions.

This process takes at least one month from the completion of the investigation and drafting of the report, and consequently the report is not released as a public document for some months after the occurrence. The report will be published on this website as soon as the document is publicly released.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been advised that a Cessna 404, VH-SKW, a scheduled passenger service from Cairns to Aurukun in Queensland was involved in a landing accident at Aurukun. It is understood the nose landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. None of the twelve occupants were injured.

In accordance with Section 19CB(2) of the Air Navigation Act 1920, the ATSB has commenced an investigation into this accident. Investigators will not be attending the accident site.

At approximately 0400 Eastern Standard Time today the Australian Transport Safety Bureau was notified of a in-flight windscreen fire in an Airbus A330 aircraft that was en route from Osaka, Japan to Coolangatta, Australia.

The incident occurred at about 0220 and the flight crew diverted to Guam where the 13 crew and 185 passengers disembarked safely. There are no reported injuries.

The ATSB has commenced an investigation in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization Annex 13 on the understanding that the event took place over international waters. The ATSB has notified the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the French Bureau dEnquétes et dAnalyses pour la sécurité de laviation civile (BEA).

A team of investigators including operations, electrical engineer and licensed aircraft maintenance engineer will travel to Guam this morning to commence the investigation.

Any further inquiries should be directed to the ATSB on 1800 020 616.

At approximately 0730 this morning a Malaysian flag, 24 000 tonne container vessel 'Bunga Teratai Satu' ran aground on Sudbury Reef south-east of Cairns in the Great Barrier Reef marine park. The ship was en route from Singapore to Sydney.

The ship was not in the compulsory pilotage area of the inner-route of the Great Barrier Reef and so there was no marine pilot on board at the time of the incident.

The Cairns Regional Harbour Master's office is currently assessing the damage to the ship.

There are no reports of pollution.

The ATSB is sending two investigators to Cairns to investigate this incident.

Today the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is releasing its Preliminary Factual report into the tail strike involving Airbus A340-500, A6-ERG, during take-off at Melbourne Airport at approximately 10:31 PM on the evening of 20 March 2009. The aircraft was being operated on a scheduled passenger flight from Melbourne to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

It is important to note that the information contained in the preliminary factual report, as the name suggests, is limited to preliminary factual information that has been established in the initial investigation of the accident. Caution should be exercised as there is the possibility that new evidence may become available that alters the circumstances as depicted in the report. Analysis of the factual information and findings as to the factors that contributed to the accident are subject to ongoing work and will be included in the final report.

The ATSB investigation, assisted by a number of other organisations and agencies, including the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the French Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA), Emirates and Airbus, has determined that during the take-off roll on runway 16, the captain called for the first officer to rotate (lift off). However, when the aircraft was slow to respond, the captain commanded and applied maximum take-off thrust (TOGA). The aircraft's tail struck the runway and the aircraft lifted off shortly afterwards. During the take-off, the aircraft's tail contacted the ground beyond the end of the runway and a number of airport landing aids came into contact with the aircraft.

After becoming airborne, the flight crew received a cockpit message that a tail strike had occurred and so they contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC) and requested a return to Melbourne. The aircraft was radar vectored by ATC over Port Philip Bay to dump fuel to reduce the aircraft's weight for landing. While reviewing the aircraft's performance documentation in preparation for landing, the crew noticed that an incorrect weight had been inadvertently entered into the laptop when completing the take-off performance calculation prior to departure. The performance calculations were based on a take-off weight that was 100 tonnes below the actual take-off weight of the aircraft.

The result of that incorrect take-off weight was to produce a thrust setting and take-off reference speeds that were lower than those required for the aircraft's actual weight. During the return to land at Melbourne, a cabin crew member reported smoke in the cabin. The aircraft subsequently landed safely at 11:36 PM and was able to be taxied to the terminal where the passengers were disembarked. There were no reported injuries.

Damage to the aircraft included abraded skin to the rear, lower fuselage and damage to the rear pressure bulkhead. There was also damage to a fixed approach light, an instrument landing system (ILS) monitor antenna and the ILS localiser antenna.

The aircraft was fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and a Digital Aircraft Condition Monitoring System Recorder (DAR). The FDR was dislodged from its mounting in the rear of the aircraft during the tail strike and only recorded data up to that point. The CVR and DAR recorded data for the entire flight.

The investigation is continuing and will examine:

• human performance and organisational risk controls
• computer-based flight performance planning, including the effectiveness of the human interface of computer-based planning tools.
• reduced power take-offs, including the associated risks and how they are managed.

The aircraft operator has informed the ATSB that based on their internal investigation, the following areas are under review:

• human factors
• training
• fleet technical and procedures
• hardware and software technology.

The investigation is ongoing and the ATSB continues to work closely with representatives from the UAE GCAA, French BEA, Emirates and Airbus. While the investigation is likely to take some months, should any critical safety issues emerge that require urgent attention, the ATSB will immediately bring such issues to the attention of the relevant authorities who are best placed to take prompt action to address those issues.