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.…

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…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) today released the preliminary factual report into the 15 June 2010 aircraft accident that killed a pilot and a flight nurse in Canley Vale, NSW. The report presents the facts of the accident gathered by the ATSB's initial investigation. The investigation is continuing. The ATSB will examine the recovered aircraft components, maintenance records and operational issues. Investigators will also review the operator's flight crew training records and conduct further analysis…

On Friday 5 March 2010, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will hold a media conference to accompany the release of its final investigation report into a mishandled go-around procedure, involving an Airbus A320-232 passenger aircraft (registered VH-VQT). The incident occurred during a landing attempt at Melbourne airport on 21 July 2007, following a scheduled flight from Christchurch, New Zealand. The ATSB's Chief Commissioner, Mr Martin Dolan, and Team Leader, Aviation Safety Investigations, Mr Joe Hattley, will discuss the…

An aircraft operator has changed its operating procedures following a go-around during an attempted landing at Melbourne in July 2007. The aircraft manufacturer has also revised some of its procedures for the aircraft type. A passenger aircraft had attempted to land at Melbourne airport in fog, but abandoned the landing due to low visibility. During the go-around, the aircraft descended to within 38 feet of the ground before climbing. An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation Report, released today,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) held a media briefing near Dorrigo, NSW on the ATSB's investigation into the Bell 206 helicopter accident on 9 December 2009. Senior Investigator Chuck Davies told the media that the investigation would seek to identify what factors may have contributed to the accident. The ATSB is also investigating two other incidents involving helicopter operations in support of firefighting efforts, that occurred near Bathurst and Tamworth this week. The ATSB has dispatched a team of five investigators to Dorrigo. The team arrived on site early on 10 December…