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Shellharbour aircraft accident
UPDATED 12 OCTOBER: The ATSB has commenced a transport safety investigation into an accident involving a Piper Cherokee Lance aircraft at Shellharbour Airport on Saturday morning. The aircraft was departing from runway 26 when soon after take-off flight tracking data shows it deviating to the left and impacting the end of the intersecting runway. Despite a timely response from first responders the aircraft was consumed by a post-impact fire and the three occupants were fatally injured. The ATSB has deployed a team of 4 transport safety investigators from its Canberra and Melbourne…
Ditching involving Robinson R44, VH-XSO, 24 km north-east of Horn Island Airport, Queensland, on 8 October 2025
Sadies Beach Helipad Helicopter Landing Site, Qld, Coconut Island Aircraft Landing Area, Qld, R44, 817, Helicopter, VH-XSO, Part 133 Air transport operations - rotorcraft, Substantial, Robinson Helicopter Co, Nautilus Aviation
AO-2025-062
Flight below minimum altitude involving Cirrus SR22T, VH-XXO, 10 km east Canberra Airport, ACT, on 2 October 2025
Wangaratta Airport, Vic, Canberra Airport, ACT, SR22T, 8710, Part 91 General operating and flight rules, Cirrus Design Corporation
AO-2025-061
ATSB recruiting for marine transport safety investigators
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is currently recruiting for marine transport safety investigators.  The ATSB is completely independent of operators and the regulator, and…
Collision with terrain involving Robinson R22 Beta, VH-RDL, Bankstown Airport, New South Wales on 3 October 2025
Bankstown Airport, New South Wales, Bankstown Airport, New South Wales, R22 Beta, 1498, Helicopter, VH-RDL, Part 141 Recreational, private and commercial pilot flight training, Destroyed, Robinson Helicopter Co, Bankstown Helicopters Pty Limited
AO-2025-059
Interim report into ship’s loss of propulsion in Port Hedland channel
An ATSB interim report details the sequence of events leading to and following a bulk carrier’s loss of propulsion in a channel when departing Port Hedland.  The ongoing…
Engine failure during take-off involving Saab 340, VH-ZPN, at Adelaide Airport, South Australia, on 8 October 2025
Adelaide Airport, Broken Hill Airport, 340B, 340B-384, Turboprop, VH-ZPN, Part 121 Air transport operations - larger aeroplanes, Saab Aircraft Co., Regional Express
AO-2025-060
Saab 340 engine failure at Adelaide Airport
The ATSB will investigate an engine failure on take-off incident involving a Regional Express Saab 340 aircraft at Adelaide this morning. As reported to the ATSB, during the aircraft’s take-off roll for a scheduled flight to Broken Hill, the crew observed engine warnings for the left engine and aborted the take-off. During the aborted take-off procedure, the engine failed.  The aircraft subsequently vacated the runway and passengers and crew were able to disembark without further incident. As part of the investigation ATSB investigators will review recorded flight data, interview the…
R22 mercy flight floodwater ditching
The ditching of an R22 helicopter during a Queensland flood rescue highlights the importance of pilots and operators carefully considering risks and alternatives when conducting a mercy…
Bankstown R22 accident
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched a transport safety investigation into a collision with terrain accident involving a Robinson R22 helicopter just outside Bankstown Airport, in Sydney’s south-west, on Friday. The piston engine helicopter had been conducting a training flight with an instructor and student pilot on board when it collided with terrain and was destroyed. The ATSB is deploying a team of transport safety investigators from its Canberra office, specialising in operations, engineering and maintenance. Planned…