Date Issue Released
Issue number
Issue Owner
Aurizon
Safety issue title
The park brakes were ineffective
Safety Issue Description

The park brakes were ineffective in holding the locomotives on the grade in Ardglen Yard

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Rail
Transport Function
Rail: Rolling stock
Issue number
Issue Owner
New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (ParkAir)
Safety issue title
Compliance with AD SUPP 10
Safety Issue Description

It is likely that specific post-flight inspection requirements for the Breeze Eastern rescue hoist listed in Airworthiness Directive AD/SUPP/10 were not adequately completed by the operator. The inspections were targeted at ensuring correct stowage of the hook assembly at the end of each flight.

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Other
Issue number
Issue Owner
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Safety issue title
Regulator guidance
Safety Issue Description

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) advisory publications did not include information regarding the potential for reduction in braking performance resulting from active rainfall.

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Network Aviation
Safety issue title
Operator guidance
Safety Issue Description

The operator's documentation required crew to consider contamination of runways at the departure and destination airports. However, the provided definition and guidance did not include the means to identify water contamination from active rainfall.

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
United States Federal Aviation Administration
Safety issue title
Cabin exit design criteria (Issue owner: United States Federal Aviation Administration)
Safety Issue Description

Cessna 206 aircraft that feature a rear double cargo door do not meet the aircraft certification basis for the design of cabin exits. Wing flap extensions beyond 10° will block the forward portion of the rear double cargo door, significantly hampering emergency egress. This has previously resulted in fatalities.

Issue Status
Closed – Not addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Textron Aviation
Safety issue title
Cessna 206 emergency procedures
Safety Issue Description

The Cessna 206 procedure for ditching and forced landing states that the flaps are to be extended to 40°. While that permits the aircraft to land at a slower speed, it also significantly restricts emergency egress via the cargo door. However, there is no warning about that aspect in the ditching or forced landing pilot’s operating handbook emergency procedures.

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Safety issue title
Cabin exit design criteria (Issue owner: Civil Aviation Safety Authority)
Safety Issue Description

Cessna 206 aircraft that feature a rear double cargo door do not meet the aircraft certification basis for the design of cabin exits. Wing flap extensions beyond 10° will block the forward portion of the rear double cargo door, significantly hampering emergency egress. This has previously resulted in fatalities.

Issue Status
Closed – Not addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
West Star Aviation
Safety issue title
Maintenance manual supplement
Safety Issue Description

The inspection procedures in the West Star Aviation maintenance manual supplement for extended life program Cessna 441 aircraft were inadequate to detect the progressive disbonding of the emergency exit door.

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aircraft Maintenance
Issue number
Issue Owner
Whitsunday Air Services
Safety issue title
Operator consolidation processes for flight crew
Safety Issue Description

Although the operator complied with the regulatory requirements for training and experience of pilots, it had limited processes in place to ensure pilots with minimal time and experience on a new and technically different helicopter type had the opportunity to effectively consolidate their skills on the type required for conducting the operator's normal operations to pontoons.

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Whitsunday Air Services
Safety issue title
Pilots leaving the controls of the helicopter
Safety Issue Description

It was common practice for the operator’s pilots to leave the controls of their helicopter, while the rotors were turning and the friction locks applied, to escort passengers to and from the helicopter.

Issue Status
Closed – Partially addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Whitsunday Air Services
Safety issue title
Operator management of birdstrikes
Safety Issue Description

There was often a significant number of birds located on the pontoons at Hardy Reef used by the operator. However, the operator did not have a process to systematically manage the risk of birdstrike. For example:

Issue Status
Closed – Partially addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Whitsunday Air Services
Safety issue title
Operator helicopter loading practices
Safety Issue Description

Although the operator had calibrated scales available for use at two of their check-in locations, they were not routinely used to ascertain actual passenger and/or baggage weights. Instead, the operator's personnel relied on passengers’ volunteered weights (without an additional allowance) and only weighed passengers when the volunteered weights were perceived to be inaccurate.

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Whitsunday Air Services
Safety issue title
Passengers with reduced mobility
Safety Issue Description

The operator’s system used to identify passengers with reduced mobility and/or required additional safety briefing information relied on passengers self-reporting a problem.

Issue Status
Closed – Partially addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Airbus Helicopters
Safety issue title
Design of the EC120B rear left emergency exit
Safety Issue Description

Due to multiple factors, the design of the rear left sliding door (emergency exit) on the EC120B helicopter was not simple and obvious to use unless the occupant was provided with specific instructions about how to operate the exit. In particular:

  • the door required three actions to open (pull handle up, push door out, slide door back), and the second action was not indicated in either the design of the handle or the placard next to the handle
  • the design of the inside handle was such that its purpose may not have been readily apparent to many users.
Issue Status
Closed – Partially addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Safety issue title
Requirements for verbally briefing passengers on emergency exits
Safety Issue Description

There was no requirement for operators of passenger transport flights in aircraft with six or less seats to provide passengers with a verbal briefing, or written briefing material, on the method for operating the emergency exits.

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Skippers Aviation
Safety issue title
Fuel quantity assessment methods
Safety Issue Description

Although the operator had specified multiple methods of cross-checking fuel quantity gauge indications for its C441 fleet, there were limitations in the design, definition and/or application of these methods. These included:

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Aviation
Transport Function
Aviation: Air transport
Issue number
Issue Owner
Sydney Trains
Safety issue title
Unapproved practice during TWA
Safety Issue Description

There was an unapproved practice occurring during Track Work Authority of asking the Outer Handsignaller to remove Railway Track Signals from the track as a train was closely approaching in order to let it run free, which placed the Outer Handsignaller at risk of being struck by the train.

Issue Status
Open – Safety action pending
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Rail
Transport Function
Rail: Infrastructure
Issue number
Issue Owner
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Safety issue title
Regulatory oversight
Safety Issue Description

Regulatory safety oversight of Iron Chieftain, which comprised flag State audits, surveys and inspections had not identified safety deficiencies with respect to the ship’s fire safety, risk management, emergency preparedness and emergency response.

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Marine
Transport Function
Marine: Other
Issue number
Issue Owner
Fire and Rescue New South Wales
Safety issue title
Fire and Rescue New South Wales marine firefighting capability
Safety Issue Description

The capability of Fire and Rescue New South Wales to effectively respond to a shipboard fire in Port Kembla, was limited by:

  • a lack of specialised marine firefighting expertise
  • outdated marine training for firefighters
  • relative inexperience in shipboard firefighting associated with the rarity of major shipboard fires
  • an absence of marine-specific firefighting resources and aids for use by first responders.
Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Marine
Transport Function
Marine: Other
Issue number
Issue Owner
Canada Steamship Lines Australia
Safety issue title
Shipboard emergency contingency plans
Safety Issue Description

Iron Chieftain's Emergency Contingency Plan did not include a response plan to fire in the high fire risk self-unloading system spaces. Consequently, there was no clear plan or practiced sequence of actions that could aid emergency preparedness.

Issue Status
Closed – Adequately addressed
Date issue released
Mode of Transport
Marine
Transport Function
Marine: Shipboard operations