Failing to keep a proper lookout and poor radar detectability were the major contributing factors to a collision between a bulk carrier and a private yacht, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report released today. The ATSB report into the incident states that, at about 0440 on Tuesday, 19 February 2005, a collision occurred between the bulk carrier, Goa and the sailing vessel, Marie Chocolat. Goa was approaching the anchorages offshore from the port of Newcastle, NSW while Marie…

Sail training ship groundings An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report released today states that on two occasions the Australian registered sail training ship Leeuwin II grounded on uncharted shoals in poorly or inadequately surveyed areas. On 22 July 2005 Leeuwin II grounded on an uncharted shoal during a voyage under motor from Careening Bay to the Hunter River in the Kimberly region of Western Australia. Just under two months later, on 16 September 2005, Leeuwin II grounded on an uncharted shoal in Shark Bay, Western Australia…

A crew member who jumped into the sea after being engulfed in flames probably reduced the severity of his burn injuries according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report released today. The ATSB report into the incident states that, at about 0840 on 21 April 2005, a crew member on board the Hong Kong bulk carrier Hui Shun Hai was working on a hydraulic oil pipeline on the main deck of the ship when the line parted, allowing pressurised hydraulic oil to escape. The oil ignited, and exploded…

A preliminary Report by the ATSB into the four-fatality accident near Condobolin on 2 December indicates that there was no distress signal from the aircraft before it broke up in the vicinity of thunderstorms. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's Preliminary Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the Piper Chieftain aircraft accident near Condobolin, NSW also found that structural failure spread wreckage along a 4 km path. An active…

Kym Bills B.A. (Hons), B.Ec., B.Litt., M.Sc., M. Min., FCILT, FAIM, FAICD, FRGS, FRAI, MSIAExecutive Director ATSB, 28 October 2005, Keynote speech 10:15 am [slide 1 ATSB logo] Chairman (Group Capt Noddy Sawade), Executive Chairman Peter Lloyd, distinguished guests and colleagues [slide 2 title page] I was delighted that the Safeskies Conference Board proposed the title for my talk of 'The role of the ATSB in the Systemic Management of Aviation Safety' because there appears to be a persistent level of ignorance, confusion and challenge to the role of the ATSB and like bodies around the world…

The ATSB has released recommendations to CASA relating to fitment of aircraft autopilot equipment and crew instrument approach qualifications as part of the investigation into the Lockhart River fatal accident on 7 May 2005. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau found that the Metroliner aircraft that crashed near Lockhart River on 7 May 2005 was not fitted with an autopilot and the copilot was not qualified to conduct the instrument approach the crew were conducting. Addressing both is seen by the ATSB as desirable to improve future safety. The aircraft was being operated on a scheduled…

The ATSB's Final Aviation Safety Investigation report, into a fatal helicopter wire strike accident at Dunedoo, NSW, has found that the pilot and passengers were generally aware of the location of the wire but the helicopter still struck it during its locust control operation. Workload and possible loss of concentration may have contributed. The pilot was conducting aerial spotting operations in a Bell Helicopter Model 206B on 22 November 2004 in support of locust control operations being administered by the NSW…

A media conference for the release of the interim Report and the two discussion papers will be held on Thursday 31 August 2006. Where: 15 Mort Street, Canberra City (ATSB Headquarters) Time: 10:30 local time Mr Alan Stray, Deputy Director, Information and Investigations will discuss factual information contained in the Report and the two discussion papers.

As an operationally independent body within the Australian Government Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is Australia's prime agency for Transport Safety Investigations. It is therefore essential that the agency's name is reported correctly: AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU (ATSB) when covering the Bureau's activities.

An execution error by the helmsman of a ship led to a ship running aground in Sydney Harbour. The Maltese registered general cargo ship Tauranga Chief ran aground on a mud/sand patch just south of Bradleys Head light in the middle of Sydney Harbour at 0339 in the morning of 17 January 2003. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report released today states that the ship arrived at Sydney Heads at 0300 on 17 January 2003 and a harbour pilot boarded. The pilot took charge of the conduct of the ship and it continued into the harbour…