After allowing for activity levels, ATSB research indicates that Robinson R22 helicopters have a similar safety profile to other comparable helicopters. This study was prompted by increasing concerns about light utility helicopter safety in Australia. Light utility helicopters make up half the registered fleet yet were involved in 72 per cent of all helicopter accidents between 1985 and 2003. The report compared accident involvement and accident rates of four helicopter models; Robinson R22, Bell/Agusta/Kawasaki 47G, Hughes/Schweizer 269 and Hiller UH-12E. The Robinson R22 was involved in…

The ATSB's aviation safety survey of commercial pilots, Common Flying Errors, has revealed that, violations of standard operating procedures were more prevalent in general aviation and were involved in 11.8% of all events. The survey asked pilots to identify the main factors contributing to errors and the defences they used to recover. Most errors occurred en route, distantly followed by flight preparation errors. All categories of pilot experienced errors while executing procedures en route, such as not completing their landing checklist, and misprocessing information from their operational…

The failure of officers to use modern navigation bridge management principles was the major factor in the grounding of the Bahamas registered passenger ship Astor during the ship's departure from Townsville at around 7 pm on 26 February 2004, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report released today. The ATSB report into the Astor grounding released today states that the ship grounded on its port side as it was turning from Townsville harbour into Platypus Channel. The ship heeled about three degrees to starboard and, after about three minutes, slid clear…

A study by the ATSB has shown that just under half of the general aviation fatal accidents in the ten year period between 1991 and 2000 were Uncontrolled Flight Into Terrain (UFIT) accidents, where an intact aircraft collided with a stationary obstacle or terrain after an in-flight loss of control had occurred. In more than half of the UFIT fatal accidents an event that was either not averted, or not managed appropriately by the pilot, or was not within the pilot's control, preceded the loss of control. However, in the vast majority of UFIT fatal accidents that occurred during low-level…

The ATSB has found that the fatal accident at Camden aerodrome on 7 February last year was the result of a simulated engine failure during a flight test at night that was initiated at too low a height to ensure safety. The Beech Duchess twin engine aircraft, VH-JWX, crashed shortly after takeoff, seriously injuring the trainee pilot and fatally injuring the pilot in command who was an Approved Testing Officer (ATO) authorised by the regulator. The aircraft was recovering after the engine failure simulation when the right wingtip collided with a tree. Shortly after, the aircraft impacted the…

The ATSB has found that a stabilised approach and a ground proximity warning system would have reduced the risk of the controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accident that occurred at Coffs Harbour on 15 May 2003. The final Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report was released today. According to the ATSB, the King Air aircraft hit the sea or a reef near the Coffs Harbour boat harbour during an instrument approach in heavy rain and poor visibility. Although the aircraft was damaged and the left main landing gear was broken off, the aircraft kept flying and just cleared a…

The ATSB has released a major accident report on behalf of the Government of East Timor into the fatal accident on 31 January 2003 which resulted in six fatalities. The ATSB found that the accident occurred when a large Russian-made Ilyushin IL-76 cargo jet aircraft crashed at Baucau, East Timor in bad weather after impacting terrain while attempting to land. On behalf of the East Timor Government the ATSB, with the assistance of Australian Defence (DFS-ADF and DSTO) officers and the Moscow-based Commonwealth of Independent States Interstate Aviation Committee, investigated the accident. The…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has dispatched a team of four investigators and support staff to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic accident near Benalla, Victoria, on 28 July 2004. The factual circumstances to hand are that at about 11 am on the 28th of July, a Piper Cheyenne, VH-TNP, en-route Bankstown (NSW) to Benalla (Victoria) with six people on board disappeared from radar about 33km south-east of Wangaratta, where weather conditions were low cloud and rain. Airservices Australia will be providing these radar and air traffic control tapes to the Bureau to aid in…

A media briefing to discuss the circumstances of the 28 July 2004 Piper Cheyenne, VH-TNP accident near Benalla, Victoria will be held at Myrrhee Hall off Boggy Creek Road at 4.00pm today, 29 July 2004. The Investigator in Change, Alex Hood, will discuss factual events as are known to the investigation team at this point in time. With the exception of this media conference all media contact will continue to be addressed by the Bureau's central office, details below.

The ATSB has found that the Hamilton Island accident in which six people died was the result of a low altitude stall. The tragedy provides an important opportunity to highlight some dangers to flight safety including post-alcohol impairment, cannabis, and fatigue. At about 5pm on 26 September 2002, Piper Cherokee Six registration VH-MAR crashed shortly after take-off from runway 14 at Hamilton Island heading for the neighbouring Lindeman Island. The pilot and five passengers were fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and the post-impact fire. The final ATSB…