The ATSB has found that a high-pressure oxygen system fire on board the roll-on/roll-off cargo ship Searoad Mersey, on 22 September 2006, occurred when an unsuitable replacement hose fitted to the system ignited. The ship's trainee engineer was hit in the head by the gas pressure regulator and received burns to his face, head and arms. At about 1540 on 22 September 2006, the trainee engineer was preparing the fixed oxy-acetylene system for a small hot-work job when two of the oxygen system's high-pressure hoses, and the oxygen regulator, exploded in a flash fire. It is probable that, when the…

The ATSB has found that insufficient train braking and inadequate warning distance contributed to a collision between a track mounted excavator and a freight train at Inverleigh, Victoria on 25 September 2006. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation established that the collision occurred because the train driver's initial brake applications approaching the work site were too little too late and that the outer flag person protecting the worksite was not positioned far enough away from the site given the anticipated train traffic, the line speed and the descending gradient. The…

The ATSB has reviewed safety information on a Qantas 747 tyre burst incident on take-off at Singapore Airport on 8 March 2006 and agrees with the Singapore and German authorities that there was no safety concern warranting a major investigation. In March 2006, specialist investigators in Australia, Singapore and Germany determined after preliminary investigation that a full investigation was not warranted. From September 2006, the ATSB and Singapore Air Accidents Investigation Branch reviewed detailed material received with the full cooperation of Qantas and again determined a major…

The ATSB has been successful in downloading key data from the flight data recorder (FDR) of the Garuda 737 accident aircraft but the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) has not yet been able to be downloaded. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is assisting the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) with Indonesias investigation into the factors which led to the accident in accordance with Annex 13 to the international Chicago Convention under which the Indonesian NTSC is in charge of the safety investigation and the ATSB is Australia's 'accredited representative'. In…

The ATSB has found that the self propelled accommodation platform Safe Concordia had been plagued by problems in its electrical systems since its construction and these problems had not been adequately addressed before the platform suffered two electrical fires in its propulsion system after entering Bass Strait in September 2005. Safe Concordia is a dynamic positioning, self propelled, semi-submersible accommodation platform that uses four electrically driven thrusters to maintain its position. The platforms construction and delivery trials were completed in March 2005. The platform was used…

The ATSBs final investigation report into the fatal crash of an R44 Helicopter west of the Gunpowder airstrip in Queensland on 21 February 2006 found that the operation of the helicopter at weights that did not allow for adequate performance in the high temperatures experienced in the area may have contributed to the development of the accident. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau report states that the helicopter, with a pilot and three passengers on board was engaged in aerial survey operations between the Mt Gordon and Mt Kelly mines in northern Queensland. It was reported overdue at a…

Pilot and media personality Graeme (Shirley) Strachan was fatally injured when he lost control of the helicopter he was flying after it was damaged in severe mountain wave turbulence and crashed on the north-east slope of Mount Archer, Queensland on 29 August 2001. This was the main finding in the final accident report released today by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. "The extensive damage to the helicopter, severed tailboom and the location of parts on the ground, led transport safety investigators to conclude that the main rotor blade may have contacted the tailboom in flight," Air…

The ATSB has found that a Cessna 208 engine failure and forced landing onto a lake in a remote part of south-western Tasmania last year was due to a previous generator failure, has praised the pilots actions in landing the aircraft and ensuring passenger safety, and has made a number of safety recommendations to prevent a similar failure. The Australian Transport Safety Bureaus final investigation report states that the aircraft, a single engine Cessna 208 floatplane was being operated on a commercial scenic flight over rugged terrain with a pilot and 10 passengers. The occupants were…

The ATSB's final aviation investigation report into a fatal fire-bombing accident south of Cootamundra last year found that the pilot lost control of the aircraft during a low altitude turn and that his lack of experience on the modified Dromader turbine-engined aircraft may have been a contributing factor. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau notes that this was only the second fatal accident involving a fixed-wing aircraft engaged in fire-bombing operations in Australia since they commenced in the early 1960s, despite the high risks associated with that type of flying. In contrast to…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is inviting owners of flying Amateur-built ABAA and Experimental (ABE) aircraft to participate in a survey. This is the first time in Australia that a constructive effort has been made to gather data on this growing segment of general aviation. ABE aircraft have become an increasingly popular alternative to the purchase of traditional certified aeroplanes. The strong growth in this segment of general aviation deserves greater attention. This survey was developed with the assistance of members of the ABE aircraft community, and we thank them for…