The first people to arrive at an aircraft accident site can render valuable assistance to minimise injury and loss of life, reduce property loss through damage and prevent the loss of clues and evidence that are vital to determining the reason for the accident. Often, emergency services personnel (police, fire brigade and ambulance, and their Defence Force equivalents) are the first trained personnel to arrive at aircraft accident sites. This online guide (note: printed copies no longer available - PDF version ONLY) has been prepared by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the…

The Aviation Short Investigation Bulletin covers a range of the ATSB’s short investigations and highlights valuable safety lessons for pilots, operators and safety managers. Released periodically, the Bulletin provides a summary of the less-complex factual investigation reports conducted by the ATSB. The results, based on information supplied by organisations or individuals involved in the occurrence, detail the facts behind the event, as well as any safety actions undertaken. The Bulletin also highlights important Safety Messages for the broader aviation community, drawing on earlier ATSB…

The ATSB Annual Report 2016–17 outlines performance against the outcome and program structure in the Infrastructure and Regional Development Portfolio Budget Statements 2016–17. Appointed Chief Commissioner on 1 July 2016, I was honoured to be provided the opportunity to lead a world-class transport safety investigation agency. As the accountable authority, I was acutely aware that the ATSB’s primary function is to improve transport safety with priority given to delivering the best safety outcomes for the travelling public. Having worked in other agencies within the transport portfolio for…

The Aviation Short Investigation Bulletin covers a range of the ATSB’s short investigations and highlights valuable safety lessons for pilots, operators and safety managers. Released periodically, the Bulletin provides a summary of the less-complex factual investigation reports conducted by the ATSB. The results, based on information supplied by organisations or individuals involved in the occurrence, detail the facts behind the event, as well as any safety actions undertaken. The Bulletin also highlights important Safety Messages for the broader aviation community, drawing on earlier ATSB…

The Aviation Short Investigation Bulletin covers a range of the ATSB’s short investigations and highlights valuable safety lessons for pilots, operators and safety managers. Released periodically, the Bulletin provides a summary of the less-complex factual investigation reports conducted by the ATSB. The results, based on information supplied by organisations or individuals involved in the occurrence, detail the facts behind the event, as well as any safety actions undertaken. The Bulletin also highlights important Safety Messages for the broader aviation community, drawing on earlier ATSB…

Research of accidents into water has shown that occupants who survive the initial impact will likely have to make an in-water or underwater escape, as helicopters usually rapidly roll inverted post-impact. The research has also shown that drowning is the primary cause of death following a helicopter accident into water. Sonar image of helicopter on seabed Source: Pilbara Ports Authority and contractors working on their behalf What happened On 14 March 2018, at about 2330 Western Standard Time, an Eurocopter EC135 helicopter, registered VH‑ZGA departed Port Hedland…

The purpose of this report Each year, thousands of safety occurrences involving Australian and foreign-registered aircraft are reported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) by individuals and organisations in Australia’s aviation industry and by members of the general public. This report is part of a series that aims to provide information to the aviation industry, manufacturers and policy makers, as well as to the travelling and general public, about these aviation safety occurrences. In particular, what can be learned to improve transport safety in the aviation…

Why the ATSB did this research This is the second in a series of research investigations looking at technical failures reported to the ATSB. This report reviews power plant problems affecting turboprop‑powered aircraft between 2012 and 2016. By summarising power plant-related occurrences, this report provides an opportunity for operators to compare their own experiences with others flying the same or similar aircraft types, or aircraft using the same engines. By doing so, the ATSB hopes that the wider aviation industry will be able to learn from the experience of others. What the ATSB found A…

Since the publication of the ATSB report A safety analysis of remotely piloted aircraft systems 2012 to 2016 (AR-2017-016) in March 2017, the ATSB has observed a significant change in the trend of reported occurrences involving Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). Contrary to the previous report, our most current forecasts predict the total number of RPAS occurrences reported to the ATSB in 2017 to be comparable to 2016. Due to this new information and the lack of data present in the public arena, the ATSB opted to publish a new edition of the report detailing our current understanding…

The Aviation Short Investigation Bulletin covers a range of the ATSB’s short investigations and highlights valuable safety lessons for pilots, operators and safety managers. Released periodically, the Bulletin provides a summary of the less-complex factual investigation reports conducted by the ATSB. The results, based on information supplied by organisations or individuals involved in the occurrence, detail the facts behind the event, as well as any safety actions undertaken. The Bulletin also highlights important Safety Messages for the broader aviation community, drawing on earlier ATSB…