7-Aug-2023Source: ATSB
The collision with water of a Bell UH-1H helicopter near Anna Bay, NSW, resulting in the loss of all five people on board, highlights the significant risk of visual pilots attempting to fly in instrument conditions, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation into the 6 September 2019 accident notes. The pilot of the UH-1H... Read more
9-Dec-2022Source: Australian Government
The failure of a Robinson R44 helicopter’s clutch shaft due to an undetected fatigue crack led to a loss of control before the helicopter collided with a vehicle, an ATSB investigation report details. The R44 had been conducting aerial spraying operations at a property near Clare, South Australia on 22 December 2020. As the pilot... Read more
17-Jun-2022Source: ATSB
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has issued a Safety Advisory Notice to operators of the UH-1H helicopter, recommending that they inspect the helicopter’s ‘KAflex’ driveshaft. The Safety Advisory Notice stems from the ATSB’s on-going investigation into a fatal accident involving a UH-1H that was conducting firebombing operations at Labrina, near Launceston, Tasmania on 14 February... Read more
1-Jun-2022Source: Australian Government
The pilot of an AW139 emergency medical service helicopter received a TCAS ‘resolution advisory’ collision alert while transiting airspace above Mangalore Airport en route to Royal Melbourne Hospital when a Piper Seminole aircraft conducted an unanticipated missed approach to the airport, an ATSB investigation report details. The report details that on the afternoon of... Read more
18-Aug-2021Source: Australian Government
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is asking for pilots, operators, and engineers with knowledge of aft tail cone bulkhead or tail rotor gearbox input cartridge damage involving Robinson R22, R44 and R66 helicopters to make contact. The call for information comes as the ATSB releases an investigation update from its ongoing investigation of a... Read more
21-Oct-2020Source: Australian Government
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) reminds all helicopter pilots to be prepared and respond immediately to low rotor RPM warnings, following the investigation into the collision with terrain of a Robinson R44 helicopter south of Ayers Rock Airport, Northern Territory, on 17 January 2018. Shortly after departing the Yulara Town helipad for a 15-minute... Read more
16-Jan-2017Source: ATBS
A recent accident involving a Bell 206 helicopter highlights the ongoing dangers wirestrikes pose to pilots flying at low levels in a high workload environment. On 18 December 2016, the pilot was flying a Bell 206 helicopter from Bathurst to Wagga Wagga, NSW for maintenance, in wet and cloudy weather conditions. While flying at low... Read more
9-Jan-2017Source: ATSB
Aircraft operators and organisations involved in aviation safety will soon have access to a new method of submitting written notifications to the ATSB of aviation safety matters. This method will allow operators and organisations to report out of their own safety management systems or reporting software and directly transfer accident and incident notifications to the... Read more
2-Jul-2015Source: ATSB
The Australian Government has reappointed Mr Noel Hart as a Commissioner with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss announced the two-year extension of Mr Hart’s term today, effective from 1 July 2015. “Mr Hart’s extensive maritime and resource industry operations experience, along with... Read more
20-Nov-2013Source: ATSB
Aerial work and private flights were permitted under the visual flight rules in dark night conditions, which are effectively the same as instrument meteorological conditions, but without sufficient requirements for proficiency checks and recent experience to enable flight solely by reference to the flight instruments. Response to safety issue by: the Civil Aviation Safety Authority... Read more
3-Oct-2013Source: ATSB
A helicopter accident at Horn Island has shown the challenges that can accompany night operations, as well as the speed with which things can suddenly go wrong. The accident occurred on 13 June 2013. At about 7.24 pm, a Bell 412 helicopter departed Horn Island, Queensland on a training flight to Prince of Wales Island... Read more
5-Apr-2013Source: ATSB
Robinson R44 helicopters that have not been fitted with upgraded fuel tanks face being grounded from 30 April 2013. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has issued a direction to all affected R44 helicopter operators about the installation of flexible fuel tanks to reduce the risk of post-accident fires. CASA has made it clear that R44... Read more
22-Mar-2013Source: HeliHub.com
The Australian investigation authority ATSB has issued their final report on the fatal R22 accident on 3rd October last year which occurred 130 km west of Halls Creek in Western Australia. The summary is a blunt reminder of issues with confined areas, light levels etc What happened On 3 October 2012 the pilots of two... Read more
20-Feb-2013Source: ATSB
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) welcomed the reappointment of Ms Carolyn Walsh as a member of the ATSB Commission. Ms Walsh’s appointment by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Anthony Albanese will commence on 8 March 2013 and will run for a further three years. Ms Walsh has a wealth of experience... Read more
27-Jan-2013Source: ATSB
ATSB summary of the accident follows:- What happened On 3 September 2011, the pilot and one crewman of a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 helicopter, registered VH-HCA (HCA), departed an airstrip located near Kumarina roadhouse, approximately 150 km south of Newman, Western Australia. The crew were conducting low-level geophysical survey operations when the pilot was observed... Read more
4-Jan-2013Source: ATSB
You can now get the latest ATSB news and updates via our Twitter account: @ATSBinfo. We will use Twitter to tell you about a range of activities and initiatives, including: new and updated investigations investigation and research report releases new safety awareness products. Some things to keep in mind The ATSB will not guarantee responding to... Read more
15-Nov-2012Source: ATSB
As a result of the ATSB investigation and in order to reduce the level of risk associated with emergency training, a helicopter operator is investigating amendments to their company operations manual. One amendment being investigated by the operator is the requirement for at least 10 kts of wind in the runway direction for the performance... Read more
13-Nov-2012Source: ATSB
The ATSB’s investigation into a wirestrike accident highlights the importance of a proper reconnaissance when flying in a wire environment and remaining focused only on operational tasks. On 12 June 2012, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Raven 1 helicopter departed Moorabbin Airport, Victoria with one person on board to conduct a private flight to a... Read more
1-Sep-2011Source: ATSB
Incident referred to is in HeliHub.com accident data at 28-Aug-11 YJ-HEL Hughes 369D South Malakula, Vanuatu (1F) On 29 August 2011, the ATSB was notified by the Vanuatu Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of an accident that occurred on the island of Maleluka, Vanuatu on 26 August 2011 and involved Hughes 369D helicopter, registered YJ-HEL. It... Read more
25-Jul-2011Source: ATSB
You can now get the latest ATSB news and updates via our Twitter account:Â @ATSBinfo. We will use Twitter to tell you about a range of activities and initiatives, including: new and updated investigations investigation and research report releases new safety awareness products. Some things to keep in mind The ATSB will not guarantee responding to... Read more
25-Jul-2011Source: ATSB
Robinson R22 helicopter pilots are being cautioned of a drive belt risk following a fatal accident in north-west Queensland. On 9 May 2011, a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter crashed after its drive belts failed during mustering operations near Julia Creek (the drive belts transmit engine power to the helicopter’s main and tail rotor blades).... Read more
18-Mar-2011Source: ATSB
On 4 February 2011, a Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Astro helicopter (R44), registered VH‑HFH, was conducting circuit operations at Cessnock Aerodrome, New South Wales. On board the helicopter were an instructor, a pilot undergoing a helicopter flight review and a passenger. Following the completion of a sequence involving the simulated failure of the helicopter’s hydraulic‑boost... Read more
