The ATSB has recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, or 'black boxes' from the Embraer 120 Brasilia aircraft that crashed at Darwin Airport, Northern Territory on Monday 22 March 2010. The recorders have been transported to the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra for analysis. The ATSB investigation team is currently at the accident site examining and recording the on‑site physical evidence, interviewing witnesses and other involved parties, and examining the available third-party recordings and documentation. The team is expected to complete the on-site phase of the…

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 Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the accident involving an Embraer Basilia aircraft (registration number VH-ANB) at Darwin Airport, Northern Territory, which occurred at 1010 CST on 22 March 2010. The ATSB investigator in charge, Mr Alex Hood will conduct a briefing on known factual aspects of the aviation accident. Where: Outside RAAF Base Darwin, NT (Cnr of Stuart Hwy and Billeroy Road) Date: Tuesday 23 March 2010, 1400 CST (local time) No further media briefings will be conducted by the investigation team. After this briefing, all media enquiries must be…

An aircraft operator has changed its operating procedures following a go-around during an attempted landing at Melbourne in July 2007. The aircraft manufacturer has also revised some of its procedures for the aircraft type. A passenger aircraft had attempted to land at Melbourne airport in fog, but abandoned the landing due to low visibility. During the go-around, the aircraft descended to within 38 feet of the ground before climbing. An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report, released today, found that the go-around did not work as intended due to a combination of:…

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…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is releasing its Interim Factual report into the tailstrike involving Airbus A340-500 aircraft, registered A6-ERG, during takeoff at Melbourne Airport, Vic. on the evening of 20 March 2009. The aircraft was being operated on a scheduled passenger flight from Melbourne to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. This report builds on the facts advised in the report that was released on 30 April 2009 (ISBN 978-1-921602-43-6, available at www.atsb.gov.au). The investigation has determined that the pre-flight take-off performance calculations were based on…

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…

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…

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…