NSIB indicts NCAA in Sikorsky helicopter crash, says aircraft wasn’t fitted with FDR

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has indicted the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in the Sikorsky helicopter crash that occurred in October.

In its accident investigation report released on Tuesday, the NSIB noted that the NCAA did not fit into the helicopter a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).

The agency released six accident reports and one preliminary report on Tuesday.

This, according to the NSIB, non-fitting of FDR in the helicopter was 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 Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh Jnr, expressed concern that the Sikorsky SK76c helicopter with registration 5N-BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on October 24 was not fitted with a FDR.

He, 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.

READ ALSO: NSIB recovers ‘Black Box’ of crashed helicopter

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 noted 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, ” the report read m

By: Babajide Okeowo

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now