The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) today welcomed the appointment of Ms Carolyn Walsh as the newest member of the ATSB Commission, effective from 8 March 2010. Appointed by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government the Hon Anthony Albanese, Ms Walsh has a wealth of experience in the area of transport safety. Most recently, Ms Walsh was Chief Executive of the Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator in New South Wales. The ATSB's Chief Commissioner, Mr Martin Dolan, said he welcomes the expertise and experience Ms Walsh…

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 Thursday 15 April. Hard copies will also be available at the briefing. After this briefing, all media enquiries…

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…

Media Briefing at 2pm, 10 December 2009 at the Skywalk, Dorrigo National Park, Dorrigo NSW Helicopter Accident involving a Bell 206 Helicopter (VH-MJO), near Dorrigo NSW on 9 December 2009. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the accident involving a Bell 206 Helicopter (VH-MJO), which occurred near Dorrigo NSW, on 9 December 2009. ATSB Senior Investigator, Mr Chuck Davies, will discuss factual information known to the ATSB at this time and will outline the investigation process at a media conference today, Thursday, 10 December 2009. Where: The Skywalk facility,…

On Thursday 19 November 2009, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will be holding a media conference into the fatal accident involving VH-ZRR, a Cessna A188B, near Kojonup, WA on 17 Nov 2009. The Investigator in Charge, Mr John Robins, will provide factual information in relation to the accident. Mr Robins will not be providing any analysis or possible contributing factors. Where: Kojonup Apex Park, Corner Broomehill Road and Albany Highway, Kojonup, WA Time: 11.00am (local time) No further media briefings will be conducted by the investigation team. After this briefing, all media…

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…

On Friday, 18 December 2009, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will be holding a media conference to accompany the release of its interim factual report into the tail strike involving Airbus A340-500 aircraft, registered A6-ERG, during take-off at Melbourne Airport, Vic. on the evening of 20 March 2009. Mr Martin Dolan, Chief Commissioner of the Bureau, and Mr Ian Sangston, Director of Aviation Safety Investigations will discuss the report. Mr Dolan and Mr Sangston will also review the investigation activities conducted up to this point, and highlight the safety action already…

A bulletin released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) today reveals that unauthorised and unnecessary low-level flying has contributed to the deaths of at least 12 people during the past 10 years. The bulletin, the first in the series of the ATSB's avoidable accidents publications, presents case studies on the dangers of flying low. It also focuses on the key safety lessons learnt from each of these cases. The ATSB's Director of Safety Data, Research and Technical, Mr Julian Walsh, said the bulletin aims to educate the flying community and general public about the inherent…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is releasing its Preliminary Factual report into the ditching that occurred 6 km to the west of Norfolk Island on the evening of 18 November 2009 and involved Israel Aircraft Industries Westwind 1124A aircraft, registered VH-NGA. The six occupants evacuated the aircraft as it sank, and were later recovered by a rescue vessel from Norfolk Island. While the ATSB has yet to establish all the factors relevant to this occurrence, it nevertheless highlights the risks in operating long distance flights to remote island locations which are subject to…