Air Safety
RESEARCH PAPER
AV I AT I O N S A F E T Y
Australian Aviation Accidents
Involving Fuel Exhaustion and Starvation
Department of Transport and Regional Services
Australian Transport Safety Bureau
RESEARCH PAPER
DECEMBER 2002
Australian Aviation Accidents
Involving Fuel Exhaustion and Starvation
Released under the provisions of Section 19CU of Part 2A of the Air Navigation Act 1920.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is an operationally independent multi-modal Bureau within the Commonwealth Department of
Transport and Regional Services. The ATSB’s objective is safe transport.
It seeks to achieve this through: open and independent no blame investigation; safety data analysis; and safety communication and education. As the ATSB believes that safety information is of greatest value if it is passed on for the use of others, readers are encouraged to copy or reprint for further distribution, acknowledging the ATSB as the source.
ISBN 1 877071 25 0
January 2003
This report was produced by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), PO Box 967, Civic Square ACT 2608.
Readers are advised that the ATSB investigates for the sole purpose of enhancing safety. Consequently, reports are confined to matters of safety significance and may be misleading if used for any other purpose.
ii
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Objectives of this study
1.2 Background information
3
3
3
2
METHOD
7
3
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Overview
3.2 Injuries and losses
3.3 Accidents by operational category
3.4 Accidents rates by year
3.5 Comparison with the United Kingdom and Canada
3.6 Contributing Factors
3.7 Response to engine failure
3.8 Pilot checking and training
9
9
9
10
12
14
15
18
18
4
CONCLUSIONS
21
5
SAFETY ACTIONS
23
6
FURTHER READING
27
REFERENCES
29
APPENDIX A
31
APPENDIX B
35
iii
iv
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
AV I AT I O N S A F E T Y
Australian Aviation Accidents
Involving Fuel Exhaustion and Starvation
Department of Transport and Regional Services
Australian Transport Safety Bureau
RESEARCH PAPER
DECEMBER 2002
Australian Aviation Accidents
Involving Fuel Exhaustion and Starvation
Released under the provisions of Section 19CU of Part 2A of the Air Navigation Act 1920.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is an operationally independent multi-modal Bureau within the Commonwealth Department of
Transport and Regional Services. The ATSB’s objective is safe transport.
It seeks to achieve this through: open and independent no blame investigation; safety data analysis; and safety communication and education. As the ATSB believes that safety information is of greatest value if it is passed on for the use of others, readers are encouraged to copy or reprint for further distribution, acknowledging the ATSB as the source.
ISBN 1 877071 25 0
January 2003
This report was produced by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), PO Box 967, Civic Square ACT 2608.
Readers are advised that the ATSB investigates for the sole purpose of enhancing safety. Consequently, reports are confined to matters of safety significance and may be misleading if used for any other purpose.
ii
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Objectives of this study
1.2 Background information
3
3
3
2
METHOD
7
3
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Overview
3.2 Injuries and losses
3.3 Accidents by operational category
3.4 Accidents rates by year
3.5 Comparison with the United Kingdom and Canada
3.6 Contributing Factors
3.7 Response to engine failure
3.8 Pilot checking and training
9
9
9
10
12
14
15
18
18
4
CONCLUSIONS
21
5
SAFETY ACTIONS
23
6
FURTHER READING
27
REFERENCES
29
APPENDIX A
31
APPENDIX B
35
iii
iv
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
References: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (2001). Safety Advisor – Operations and Proficiency No.5: Fuel Awareness Bureau of Air Safety Investigations (1987). Australian Aviation Occurrences Involving Fuel Starvation and Exhaustion 1969-1986 Bureau of Transport Economics (2000). Road Crash Costs in Australia. BTE, Canberra. Bureau of Transport Economics (1998). Cost of Civil Aviation Accidents and Incidents Ellis, G., (1984). Air Crash Investigation of General Aviation Aircraft. Capstan Publications Inc., Greybull, Wyoming, USA. Hawkins, F.H., (2001). Human Factors in Flight (2nd Edition). Ashgate, Sydney. Thatcher, S.J., (2000). An Analysis of the Root Causes of In-Flight Fuel Crisis Events.