Aviation Occurrence Statistics 2001 to 2010
Summary
A number of changes have been made to this document since it was
first published in May 2011. The number of occurrences reported
have remained the same, and only the rates of occurrences per
departure or hours flown have changed. See page vi of AR-2011-020
for further details.
In 2010, uncontained engine failures occurred on two high capacity
aircraft (a Boeing 747 and an Airbus A380); two air transport
aircraft almost collided in non-controlled airspace, coming within
40 metres of each other; and a cockpit window blew out of a Metro
aircraft at about 20,000 feet, resulting in a rapid cabin
decompression. These are some of the occurrences described in a new
report on occurrence data for the period 2001 to 2010. The
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has tabled a list of
frequently occurring events and presents them in this report along
with trends over time.
During 2010, the top five most frequently occurring events for air
transport relating to accidents and serious incidents were aircraft
separation, aircraft control, powerplant and propulsions systems,
miscellaneous events and terrain collisions, runway events and
ground operations. For air transport incidents they were wildlife
strikes, failure to comply, mechanical systems, miscellaneous and
airframe events. For general aviation aircraft involved in
accidents and serious incidents, the top five most frequently
occurring events were terrain collisions, aircraft control,
powerplant and propulsion, aircraft separation and runway events.
Where general aviation aircraft were involved in an incident, the
top five most frequently occurring events were airspace incursion,
failure to comply, wildlife strikes, runway events and aircraft
separation.
General aviation operations continue to have a fatal accident rate
per million departures that is about 4.3 times higher than for air
transport. The general aviation accident rate per million
departures is about three times higher than air transport. No fatal
accidents were recorded in high capacity air transport between 2001
and 2010. During 2010, there was one fatal accident in low capacity
air transport, and charter operations recorded no fatal accidents.
Between 2001 and 2010, most fatal accidents in air transport were
in charter operations. Charter aeroplanes and helicopters have a
similar accident and fatal accident rate. In air transport, charter
operations offer the best potential target for safety
improvement.
In general aviation, there were 147 fatal accidents and 236 people
killed between 2001 and 2010. The general aviation accident and
fatality rate is not evenly dispersed across all sub-groups or
types of aircraft. Of all general aviation sub-groups,
private/business flying has the highest fatal accident rate and the
greatest number of fatalities (135 people between 2001 and 2010).
Agriculture has the highest accident rate and second highest fatal
accident rate. This is followed by mustering, survey and
photography, and flying training. In aerial work, helicopters have
a higher accident and fatal accident rate than aeroplanes. In
contrast to this, flying training and private operations
helicopters have a higher accident rate than aeroplanes, but
overall, are associated with a smaller number of total
fatalities.
Type: | Statistical Publication |
---|---|
Investigation number: | AR-2011-020 |
Author(s): | ATSB |
Publication date: | 8 July 2011 |
ISBN: | 978-1-74251-150-4 |
[ Download PDF: 922KB]