On Sunday afternoon 6 August, the ATSB was notified that a helicopter had crashed at approximately 6:04 pm EST. The helicopter is believed to have been on a scenic flight with a pilot and four passengers when it crashed near Norman Reef approximately 30 NM NNE of Cairns. All occupants were quickly rescued. ATSB investigators, specialising in engineering and operations have commenced an investigation.

Last night, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) was informed that a Cessna 206 aircraft had disappeared from radar near Cairns at approximately 6:51pm EST. The weather at the time was reported to be very poor, with low cloud, restricted visibility and heavy rain. It is believed that there were 2 persons on board the aircraft and search and rescue operation was commenced immediately. This morning, Queensland police reported that one body and a small amount of aircraft wreckage had been recovered. ATSB investigators, specialising in Air Traffic Control and operations are enroute to…

A media conference to release the Preliminary Factual Report on the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the A340-500 Tail Strike at Melbourne Airport on 20 March 2009, will be held on: Thursday 30 April 2009 Where: ATSB offices, Level 2, 62 Northbourne Avenue, CANBERRA Time: 10:30 am (local time) Mr Julian Walsh, Director of Aviation Safety Investigation will discuss factual information known to the investigation team at this time and will outline the investigation process.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released an interim factual report on its investigation into the Qantas Boeing 747 depressurisation event that occurred 475 km north-west of Manila, Philippines on 25 July 2008. The ATSB's preliminary report, released in August 2008, provided details on the circumstances of the accident, in which a passenger oxygen cylinder (the number 4 cylinder) failed and ruptured the aircraft's fuselage, while the aircraft was cruising at 29,000 ft on a scheduled passenger flight (QF30) from Hong Kong to Melbourne. As a result of the depressurisation, the flight…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released an interim factual report into the accident involving the Qantas Airbus A330-303 in-flight upset, 154 km west of Learmonth WA, 7 October 2008. The ATSB's preliminary report, released on 14 November 2008, provided details of the circumstances of the accident, in which the aircraft abruptly pitched nose-down twice while in normal cruise flight. The aircraft (registered VH-QPA) was being operated on a scheduled passenger service (QF72) from Singapore to Perth. At 1240, while cruising at 37,000 ft, the aircraft experienced two significant…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau was advised on 27 December 2008 of an occurrence that day involving a Qantas Airbus A330-300 aircraft while in cruise at FL360 (36,000 ft) enroute from Perth to Singapore. At about 0829 UTC (1729 Local Time), the autopilot disconnected and the crew received an ECAM message (NAV IR 1 Fault) indicating a problem with ADIRU Number 1. The crew actioned the Airbus Operations Engineering Bulletin (OEB) procedure by selecting the IR 1 push-button to OFF and the ADR 1 push-button to OFF. Both OFF lights illuminated. The crew elected to return to Perth and an…

The ATSB has a team of four investigators at the site of the Beech King Air accident near Normanton in Queensland. The team will be examining the aircraft and its systems. Based on initial information, pilot and passenger incapacitation will also be considered. In June 1999 another Beech King Air was involved in an incident where the cabin pressurisation system did not operate and the pilot became temporarily incapacitated. Although the final report is yet to be released, the ATSB issued interim recommendations on 28 July and 7 October 1999 regarding: a) the fitment of passenger oxygen mask…

The ATSB has a team of four investigators at the site of the Beech King Air accident near Normanton in Queensland. The team will be examining the aircraft and its systems. Based on initial information, pilot and passenger incapacitation will also be considered. In June 1999 another Beech King Air was involved in an incident where the cabin pressurisation system did not operate and the pilot became temporarily incapacitated. Although the final report is yet to be released, the ATSB issued interim recommendations on 28 July and 7 October 1999 regarding: a) the fitment of passenger oxygen mask…

At approx 1150 pm (Eastern Daylight Saving Time) on Monday 4 September, the ATSB was advised by Air Traffic Control that a Beech King Air on a flight from Perth to Leonora had climbed through it's assigned flight level and continued on a NE heading beyond Leonora. Attempts to contact the pilot by radio were unsuccessful. The aircraft with one pilot and 7 passengers had departed Perth at 6.16 pm (Perth Time). It remained airborne for about 5 hours. Wreckage was located 80 NM SW of Normanton in Queensland. An initial team of four ATSB investigators is expected to arrive at the site later today.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's investigation into the accident involving an Airbus A330-300 aircraft operating as Qantas flight 72 on a flight from Singapore to Perth on 7 October 2008 is progressing well. The ATSB has scheduled the media conference this evening to coincide with the release of an Operators Information Telex/Flight Operations Telex, which is being sent by Airbus to operators of all Airbus aircraft. The aim of that telex is to: update operators on the factors identified to date that led to the accident involving QF72, provide operational recommendations to mitigate…