NSIB: Crashed helicopter lack recording equipment
The Sikorsky SK76c helicopter with registration 5N-BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on October 24, 2024 in Port Harcourt was not fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), a regulatory requirement, an interim report indicated on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in a released immediate safety recommendations document urged the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (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 to be fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
Speaking at a media briefing where six final accidents reports and one preliminary report were made public in Abuja, Director General of the Bureau, Capt. Alex Badeh Jnr, said the preliminary report however revealed that the flight crew were certified to conduct the ill-fated flight.
Badeh disclosed that out of the eight personnel onboard, only five been recovered while three others are yet to be found.
The report said “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.”, he said.
The helicopter, on October 24, 2024, with eight individuals – six passengers and two crew members, went down into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar, during a routine flight at approximately 11:22 AM local time.
The aircraft was en route from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Anton Offshore Facility when it lost contact with air traffic controllers.
Badeh said further that the occurrence was not survivable as the helicopter disintegrated upon impact with the water surface and its various parts scattered.
“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.”, he added.
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