The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, has indicted the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, following its accident investigation report released on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Announcing the release of six final accident reports and one preliminary report on Tuesday in Abuja, the Director General of the Bureau, Capt. Alex Badeh Jnr., said that the Sikorsky SK76c helicopter with registration 5N-BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation which crashed into the Atlantic ocean on October 24, 2024, was not fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
According to the report, this is contrary to part 7.8.2.2(q) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 which requires that FDR shall be fitted on the helicopter.
The NSIB, however, said the flight crew were certified to conduct the flight.
Revealing more details, Badeh said so far, five bodies had been recovered while three others are yet to be found.
NSIB consequently warned NCAA to ensure strict compliance to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 part 7.8.2.2(q) which requires that all helicopters with a maximum takeoff mass over 3175 kg and up to 7000 kg be fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
The Bureau also disclosed that the flight crew used non-standard phraseology throughout the flight.
“The flight crew were certified to conduct the flight. At the initial stage of the flight, the Captain was the Pilot Flying while the First Officer was the Pilot Monitoring. The helicopter had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.
“A Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. Five bodies identified as the passengers were recovered, while the remaining three occupants of the helicopter, including the flight crew, are yet to be found. The helicopter was fitted with a solid-state cockpit voice recorder.
“The helicopter was not fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), although Part 7.8.2.2(q) of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 requires that FDR shall be fitted on the helicopter.
“The flight crew used non-standard phraseology throughout the flight. There were no standard callouts for the various phases of the flight. The helicopter Radio Altimeter (Rad alt) was snagged and deferred on October 18, 2024, six days before the accident. No dew point data was reported in the weather information passed to 5N-BQG on the day of the occurrence.”
Recall that on October 24, 2024, the helicopter with eight persons onboard, including six passengers and two crew members, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar.
The incident happened during a routine flight at about 11:22am local time.
The aircraft lost contact with air traffic controllers while en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Anton Offshore Facility.
The Bureau revealed further that due to the impact with the water surface, the helicopter disintegrated and its various parts scattered, hence it was impossible for anyone onboard to survive.
“The helicopter sank to a depth of about 42 meters. In total, five bodies of the passengers were recovered, while three bodies, including the flight crew and one passenger, are yet to be found,” Badeh added.
Six other final accident reports were equally released by the NSIB.
This is coming amid protests in the NCAA where experts have continued to call for the removal of the Director-General over safety concerns, especially that his tenure has since expired.
Recent reports have claimed that the DG has continued to sign documents and memos despite the expiration of his tenure in acting capacity.
Industry sources say the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo has refused to act because of his family tie with the embattled DG. They say Najomo is Keyamo’s direct uncle, hence he has continued to lobby President Tinubu to retain him.
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