The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will conduct an independent systemic investigation into operations on the interstate rail line between Sydney and Melbourne in response to a request from the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP. The systemic investigation follows a number of specific incidents on the rail line, which is leased and operated by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC). As part of the systemic investigation, the ATSB will look at all relevant matters including: The operational condition of the interstate rail track and measures being…

Pilots of single-engine aircraft are at greater risk of having an accident following a partial engine power loss than they are of a full engine failure, according to the ATSB. A partial engine power-loss occurs when the engine provides less power than that commanded by the pilot. ATSB General Manager Strategic Capability, Mr Julian Walsh, says partial power loss is actually a more complex situation than a complete failure, and it can be much harder to manage. "The pilot is in a situation where the engine is still providing some power, but it may be unreliable, and the available power level…

Australian accidents and incidents - some worrying trends The last time, I took for granted that a Safeskies audience would know what the ATSB was and the roles it played in Australia's system of aviation safety. Conversations with a number of you - and with others - have since convinced me that I might have been over-optimistic on that score. We're still positioned in the public's mind as 'the accident investigator'. Certain television series only reinforce that view. Thorough and effective investigation is of course an essential part of what we do - a necessary pre-condition - but it's only…

The latest news on transport safety investigations is now available from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's Twitter account: @ATSBinfo ATSB will use Twitter to provide information on transport safety activities and initiatives such as: new safety investigations investigation updates investigation and research report releases new safety awareness products. Follow the ATSB on Twitter at @ATSBinfo More information is available from the ATSB website www.atsb.gov.au

An interim ATSB investigation report has confirmed the sequence of events that led to the 4 November 2010 uncontained engine failure on board a Qantas A380 aircraft over Batam Island, Indonesia. The report also sets out how, as a result of the investigation to date, Rolls-Royce, affected airlines and safety regulators have taken action to ensure the continued safe operation of A380 aircraft. Released today, the report highlights how the intermediate pressure turbine disc in the aircraft's No. 2 engine had been weakened by an oil fire. As a result, the disc separated from its shaft,…

An ATSB investigation into a fatal helicopter accident has highlighted the continuing risks facing pilots when flying around powerlines. On 20 May 2010, a helicopter struck a powerline during forestry spraying operations near the Latrobe Valley Airport in Victoria. The helicopter crashed and the pilot, the only person on board, died. The ATSB's investigation report, released today, describes how the pilot struck the wire on the final spray run despite being aware of the wire's location. ATSB Chief Commissioner, Mr Martin Dolan, said this accident is part of a worrying trend in aviation…

ATSB investigations resulted in major improvements to transport safety, according to a new research report. The report examines safety issues-and resulting actions-identified by the ATSB across the aviation, marine and rail sectors during 2009-10. From the ATSB's investigations, 124 safety issues (factors that could adversely affect the safety of future operations) were identified. The transport industry undertook 141 separate safety actions to deal with these issues. Overall, inadequate procedures or the lack of procedures posed the greatest safety risk across all three modes of transport.…

The rate of fatal accidents in general aviation is 3½ times higher than for air transport activity according to an ATSB report. Released today, the statistical report examines aviation accidents and incidents between 2001 and 2010 across all aviation types in Australia. During the past ten years, there were 236 people killed in 147 fatal accidents in general aviation. General aviation includes all VH-registered flying activities except scheduled and charter passenger and freight operations. Within general aviation, private flying accounted for the highest number of fatalities at 135 people…

Agricultural pilots are being reminded of the dangers associated with flying near wires following the release of an ATSB booklet today. The booklet, released in association with the Aerial Agriculture Association of Australia, highlights recent wirestrike accidents that occurred while pilots were conducting spraying activities. Importantly, the report provides ways for pilots to minimise the risk of striking a powerline while conducting aerial operations. ATSB Manager of Research Investigations, Dr Stuart Godley, said that in the majority of wirestrike accidents the pilots had known of the…

A new ATSB investigation bulletin released today highlights five instances of aircraft coming too close to each other. Two of these occurrences were 'breakdowns of separation,' taking place in airspace under Air Traffic Control, which has carefully defined standards to keep planes a set distance apart. Several safety actions have come out of these occurrences, including the establishment of an awareness program for Air Traffic Controllers, and a systemic review by Airservices Australia. Mr Joe Hattley, the ATSB's Assistant General Manager of Aviation Safety Investigations says the…