A new report released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) today highlights ways to manage the risks posed by birds hitting aircraft.

The report also reveals that the reported number of aircraft hitting birds (or 'birdstrikes') in Australia has steadily increased over the past eight years.

The report, which provides aviation birdstrike and animal strike occurrence data between January 2002 and December 2009, shows that in 2009 alone there were 1,340 birdstrikes reported to the ATSB.

The increase in the number of birdstrikes, however, is consistent with the increase in the number of high-capacity aircraft movements over the period as well as a greater willingness of people in aviation to report safety occurrences to the ATSB.

Although the vast majority of birdstrikes do not result in any damage or operational consequence, ATSB Chief Commissioner Mr Martin Dolan said birdstrikes still pose a serious safety risk to aircraft.

"Of the 9,287 reported birdstrikes in Australia during the past eight years, eight resulted in serious aircraft damage and four resulted in injury," Mr Dolan said.

"Interestingly, most birdstrikes occurred within 5 km of an airport and 11 per cent of strikes resulted in an engine ingestion for high-capacity aircraft.

"The ATSB encourages aerodrome operators, airlines and pilots to remain vigilant of the risk of birdstrikes. These risks can be mitigated through aerodrome wildlife control strategies, presented in the report, and through observation, avoidance and reporting of wildlife."

The most commonly damaged aircraft components in a birdstrike are aeroplane wings and helicopter rotor blades. Lapwings and plovers, bats and flying foxes, galahs, and kites are the most common types of flying animals struck by aircraft.

One of the most serious international incidents involving a birdstrike occurred when an Airbus A320 ditched on the Hudson River in New York after it struck a flock of geese and lost almost all power in both engines.

The ATSB is investigating an accident involving a Piper PA-31P aircraft that occurred at Canley Heights in NSW this morning.  

It was reported that the aircraft had two people on board and had departed from Bankstown Aerodrome in NSW.  

The pilot reported to air traffic control that the aircraft had sustained an engine problem would be returning to Bankstown. Shortly after the aircraft collided with the ground and caught fire in the vicinity of Canley Vale Road and Sackville Roads, Canley Vale Heights.

Emergency services personnel remain on site. The ATSB has dispatched a team of five investigators from Canberra to commence an investigation into the accident.

The investigator in charge will conduct a media briefing at 4.00 pm today at the corner of Canley Vale and Sackville Roads.

The ATSB requests that any witnesses to the accident please contact it on 1800 020 616.

The ATSB will provide regular updates on the website.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) today released its final investigation report into the 9 September 2009 collision between the Australian registered yacht Ella's Pink Lady and the Hong Kong registered bulk carrier Silver Yang off Point Lookout, Queensland.

The ATSB investigation found that when the two vessels collided, neither the yacht's skipper nor the ship's watch keepers were keeping a proper lookout, nor were they appropriately using navigational aids to manage the risk of collision.

The investigation also found that following the collision, the ship's watch keeper did not offer to assist the yacht's skipper. This is a problem that has also been highlighted by previous ATSB investigations.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Mr Martin Dolan said there are significant lessons to be learnt from this incident.

'This is a timely reminder that, under United Nations' conventions, ship operators have an obligation to offer assistance immediately to other vessels following a collision,' Mr Dolan said.

As a result of the ATSB investigation, the following key safety actions were taken:

• Ella's Pink Lady's radar visibility was enhanced before its departure from Sydney.
• The international requirement to render assistance following a collision has been highlighted.
• Attention was drawn to the possible limits in the detectability of Class B AIS transmissions.
• Silver Yang's operators intend to undertake further training of deck officers.

The ATSB has commenced an investigation into an aircraft accident involving a Cessna 172 that occurred about 110 km south of Broken Hill in NSW.

The aircraft was reported missing on Monday, 21 June after it departed from Woolcunda Station in NSW earlier that day. It was found by search and rescue crews this morning, partially submerged in a lake.

The status of the pilot, the only person on board, is not yet known. NSW Police are travelling to the scene.

The ATSB has dispatched four investigators to the accident site. They expect to be at the site for three to four days.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the 3 April grounding of the Chinese flagged bulk carrier Shen Neng 1 at Douglas Shoal off the Queensland coast.

Shen Neng 1 was bound for China before grounding on the reef around 36 nautical miles east of Great Keppel Island. The ship has sustained damage to a number of its water ballast and fuel tanks.

The ATSB sent three marine investigators to Gladstone, Queensland on Sunday to begin the onsite phase of the investigation. The investigators have already interviewed people ashore and collected evidence. They will board the ship today to collect further evidence and interview crew members.

A preliminary ATSB investigation report will be released in around 28 days outlining the facts as known up to that time. A full report will be released after the investigation is completed.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has a casualty coordinator on board the ship and a salvor has been appointed to assess the salvage operation. Three tugs and oil spill response vessels are at the scene.

The ATSB will work closely with AMSA, Maritime Safety Queensland, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority while conducting the investigation.

The ATSB is the Commonwealth's no-blame transport safety investigation agency. It investigates safety occurrences in the aviation, marine and rail sectors with an emphasis on identifying safety issues and improving safety. The ATSB does not investigate for the purpose of taking administrative, regulatory or criminal action.

The ATSB has found that the submarine ethane gas pipeline rupture in Port Phillip on 13 December 2008 was the result of attempting to clear the container ship APL Sydney's anchor, which had snagged the pipeline.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation found the ship's anchor had been let go too close to the pipeline in the gale force winds and insufficient anchor cable was deployed. The anchor dragged towards the pipeline and snagged it because appropriate avoiding action was not taken.

At 1428 on 13 December, APL Sydney's anchor was let go in Melbourne's Outer Anchorage, about 1 km upwind of the pipeline and shortly afterwards, the pilot left the ship. By 1501, the ship had dragged its anchor and was located outside the anchorage, about 350 m from the pipeline. The master advised Melbourne harbour control of his intention to weigh anchor and shift the ship but was instructed to maintain position and wait for a pilot.

By 1525, the pilot had not boarded and the ship, after continuing to drag its anchor, was about 50 m from the pipeline. Harbour control then gave the master permission to shift the ship. Weighing anchor was started but after a few minutes, control of the ship was effectively lost. At about 1544, the anchor snagged the pipeline and a little later, the anchor windlass also failed.

The pilot re-boarded APL Sydney at 1603 and after first considering releasing the anchor cable, discussed the situation with harbour control. At 1615, he concluded the anchor was south of the pipeline and decided to drag it clear. The master accepted his plan and at 1620, the ship's main engine was started. At 1621, the gas pipeline ruptured. There were no injuries and the pipeline was isolated.

The investigation identified safety issues in relation to: the port's risk management with respect to the pipeline and anchorage boundaries and its shipping control procedures; the ship's safety management system; the pilotage company's safety management system; and the windlass failure.

The ATSB is pleased to report that safety actions to address all the safety issues have been taken or been proposed by the relevant parties to prevent similar incidents in the future. The risk assessment of the anchorage conducted by the Port of Melbourne Corporation and the implementation of measures, including revised anchorages with individual ship berths, is one of the significant actions taken.

On Thursday 15 April, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will hold a media conference to accompany the release of its preliminary factual report into the grounding of the Shen Neng 1 off the Queensland coast.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Mr Martin Dolan will discuss the findings of the preliminary report.

Where: 62 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City ACT (ATSB Central Office)

Time: 10.30am (AEST)

The report will be available via the ATSB website (atsb.gov.au) at 10.30am on Thursday 15 April. Hard copies will also be available at the briefing. After this briefing, all media enquiries should be directed to the media phone number below.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) today welcomed the appointment of Ms Carolyn Walsh as the newest member of the ATSB Commission, effective from 8 March 2010.

Appointed by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government the Hon Anthony Albanese, Ms Walsh has a wealth of experience in the area of transport safety.

Most recently, Ms Walsh was Chief Executive of the Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator in New South Wales.

The ATSB's Chief Commissioner, Mr Martin Dolan, said he welcomes the expertise and experience Ms Walsh brings to the Commission.

"Ms Walsh will make a significant contribution to the ATSB's work and ultimately to transport safety in Australia," Mr Dolan said.

"I look forward to working with Ms Walsh as we position the ATSB to support and advance the national transport safety agenda."

Ms Walsh will hold the part time Commissioner's position for the next three years.

The ATSB is the Commonwealth's transport safety investigation agency. It investigates safety occurrences in the aviation, marine and rail sectors with an emphasis on identifying safety issues and improving safety.

The ATSB has recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, or 'black boxes' from the Embraer 120 Brasilia aircraft that crashed at Darwin Airport, Northern Territory on Monday 22 March 2010.

The recorders have been transported to the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra for analysis.

The ATSB investigation team is currently at the accident site examining and recording the on‑site physical evidence, interviewing witnesses and other involved parties, and examining the available third-party recordings and documentation. The team is expected to complete the on-site phase of the investigation later this week.

A preliminary factual report outlining the facts to date, and highlighting the future lines of enquiry, will be made available to the public on the ATSB's website in about 30 days.

Photographs of the crash site and recorders are on the investigation page of the ATSB's website.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the accident involving an Embraer Basilia aircraft (registration number VH-ANB) at Darwin Airport, Northern Territory, which occurred at 1010 CST on 22 March 2010.

The ATSB investigator in charge, Mr Alex Hood will conduct a briefing on known factual aspects of the aviation accident.

Where: Outside RAAF Base Darwin, NT (Cnr of Stuart Hwy and Billeroy Road)

Date: Tuesday 23 March 2010, 1400 CST (local time)

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