Cabin preparations

Cabin safety event - VH-NXM, Ayers Rock Aerodrome, Northern Territory, on 4 March 2010

Summary

On 4 March 2010, a Boeing 717-200 aircraft, registered VH-NXM, was being prepared to depart Ayers Rock, Northern Territory (NT) on a scheduled passenger flight to Cairns, Queensland (Qld).

At about 1500 Central Standard Time, the passengers had boarded the aircraft and the pilot in command instructed the cabin crew to close the aircraft doors. The cabin crew member allocated to the forward left door had difficulty unlatching the door, so the cabin crew member allocated to the forward right door came to assist. The assisting cabin crew member placed one foot outside the aircraft onto the portable stairs to assist with closing the door. At this point, ground personnel commenced moving the portable stairs and the assisting cabin crew member fell through the open door onto the apron. The cabin crew member sustained a fractured left arm, a sprained right wrist and some other minor injuries.

The aircraft operator and ground handling agent advised the ATSB that as a result of this occurrence, the ground handling agent has issued an interim procedure, which includes increased safety checks to ensure that the aircraft's doors are closed prior to the removal of the portable stairs.

Occurrence summary

Investigation number	AO-2010-015
Occurrence date	04/03/2010
Location	Ayers Rock Aerodrome
State	Northern Territory
Report release date	29/06/2010
Report status	Final
Investigation level	Short
Investigation type	Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status	Completed
Mode of transport	Aviation
Aviation occurrence category	Cabin preparations
Occurrence class	Accident
Highest injury level	Serious

Aircraft details

Manufacturer	The Boeing Company
Model	717
Registration	VH-NXM
Serial number	55094
Sector	Jet
Operation type	Air Transport High Capacity
Departure point	Ayers Rock, NT
Destination	Cairns, Qld
Damage	Nil

Cabin depressurisation involving Hawker Beechcraft Corporation B200, 73 km south-east of Wangaratta Airport, Victoria, on 17 January 2018

Brief

Occurrence Briefs are concise reports that detail the facts surrounding a transport safety occurrence, as received in the initial notification and any follow-up enquiries. They provide an opportunity to share safety messages in the absence of an investigation.

What happened

On 17 January 2018, at about 1320 Eastern Daylight-saving Time (EDT), a Hawker Beechcraft Corporation B200C was en-route to Essendon, Victoria (Vic.), with a pilot, flight paramedic and passenger on board. On passing through flight level (FL) 130,^[¹^] the flight paramedic advised that an oxygen mask had fallen from the stowed position. The cabin altitude indicator showed a positive rate of climb, with the indicator displaying 9,500 ft. Reducing cabin pressure confirmed the loss of pressurisation.

The pilot conducted the non-normal checklist and obtained a clearance from air traffic control to descend to 10,000 ft. As the aircraft levelled at 10,000 ft, the pilot observed that the cabin altitude was stable at 9,500 ft. The pilot followed the appropriate failure management procedures, however, none of these actions restored the pressurisation system to operational. The flight continued at 10,000 ft and landed without further incident at Essendon Airport.

Following the incident, the fault was confirmed during a ground run and the safety valve solenoid switch was replaced.

Safety message

This incident highlights the importance of flight crews maintaining awareness of all system states and being prepared to act. Quality training in failure management procedures assists in equipping crew members with the required knowledge to effectively respond to a time critical emergency.

About this report

Decisions regarding whether to conduct an investigation, and the scope of an investigation, are based on many factors, including the level of safety benefit likely to be obtained from an investigation. For this occurrence, no investigation has been conducted and the ATSB did not verify the accuracy of the information. A brief description has been written using information supplied in the notification and any follow-up information in order to produce a short summary report, and allow for greater industry awareness of potential safety issues and possible safety actions.

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Flight level: at altitudes above 10,000 ft in Australia, an aircraft’s height above mean sea level is referred to as a flight level (FL). FL 130 equates to 13,000 ft.

Occurrence summary

Mode of transport	Aviation
Occurrence ID	AB-2018-009
Occurrence date	17/01/2018
Location	Near Wangaratta Airport
State	Victoria
Occurrence class	Incident
Aviation occurrence category	Cabin preparations
Highest injury level	None
Brief release date	28/03/2018

Aircraft details

Manufacturer	Hawker Beechcraft Corporation
Model	B200C
Sector	Turboprop
Operation type	Aerial Work
Damage	Nil