The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), on Tuesday, said, crashed Sikorsky helicopter operated by Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited, on 24 October 2024 was not fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
LEADERSHIP reports that the ill-fated helicopter crash which occurred on October 24, 2024, took place off the coast of Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. and involved eight individuals onboard.
Although, Part 7.8.2.2(q) of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 requires that FDR shall be fitted on the helicopter.
However, speaking during the release of the preliminary report on the crashed helicopter, the director general, NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh jr, urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), should ensure strict compliance to regulation that required FDR for helicopters with maximum takeoff mass of 3175.
Badeh said the flight crews also used non-standard phraseology throughout the flight, adding that there were no standard callouts for the various phases of the flight.
He also disclosed that the helicopter Radio Altimeter (Rad alt) was snagged and deferred on October 18, 2024, six days before the accident, adding that no dew point data was reported in the weather information passed to 5N-BQG on the day of the occurrence.
Further findings according to the DG showed that the flight crew were certified to conduct the flight and 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, he added.
Badeh also disclosed that 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. He said the helicopter was fitted with a solid-state cockpit voice recorder.
He said the investigators were dispatched to the site the next day and commenced post-occurrence assessment under the provisions of the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations and Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
He said, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority should ensure strict compliance to the Nigerian 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 7000kg to be fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
The NSIB DG, however, urged stakeholders to pay attention to the recommendations in the reports as they hold crucial lessons for the sector.
To him, “I urge stakeholders and the general public to pay close attention to the safety recommendations in these reports, as they contain invaluable lessons that must not be overlooked. The insights offered within these documents serve as crucial guidance for preventing future occurrences and ensuring the safety of all lives involved in transportation.
“Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority should ensure strict compliance to the Nigerian 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 7000kg be fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
“The occurrence was not survivable as the helicopter disintegrated upon impact with the water surface and its various parts scattered. The crash occurred in the ocean about 1.4 km from NNPC FPSO (Nuim Antan) at the Bight of Bonny Finima. Some life vests and three bodies were recovered from the crash area. Some of the bodies recovered had inflated life vests on them.
“Further perimeter search was carried out, and no additional persons or bodies were recovered on the day of the occurrence. The three recovered bodies were transported to Nuim Antan and handed over to the medical team.
“The search and recovery radius used was based on eyewitness accounts. 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.”