BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), on Tuesday, released a preliminary report concerning the tragic crash of a Sikorsky S76C helicopter, registered 5N-BQG, operated by East Wind Aviation Logistics Services Limited.
The accident occurred on October 24, 2024, in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Eket in the Bight of Bonny, resulting in the deaths of all eight occupants.
One of the most disturbing findings was that the helicopter was not equipped with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), a crucial safety feature required under the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 Part 7.8.2.2(q) for helicopters with a maximum takeoff mass between 3,175 kg and 7,000 kg. Additionally, the helicopter’s Radio Altimeter had been flagged as faulty and deferred six days before the accident.
The report also provided a detailed account of the initial findings surrounding the accident, including the helicopter’s final moments and crucial technical revelations.
NSIB Director-General, Alex Badeh Jr., while addressing the media in Abuja, shared that investigators concluded the helicopter seemed to be “struggling to gain balance right before it crashed into the ocean.” The tragic incident took place in daylight at 11:25 AM, causing the aircraft to disintegrate upon impact with the sea.
According to Badeh Jr., the last recorded data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) revealed that the crew experienced significant difficulties before the crash.
The final moments were marked by the ominous warning, “Bank angle, Bank angle,” followed by smoke emanating from the engine ditch as the helicopter plunged into the water.
Investigators also discovered that the crew used non-standard phraseology throughout the flight, and no standard callouts were made during various phases of the flight, raising concerns about operational communication.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was recovered from the seabed on November 8, 2024, 13 days after the crash.
The device was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States for analysis, where the last 31 minutes of the recording were successfully retrieved. Key excerpts from the CVR include the following exchanges between the flight crew:
At 11:23:32 AM, the Pilot Monitoring (PM) remarked, “It’s a light shower,” followed by a chuckle, while the Pilot Flying (PF) instructed, “Climb, Climb, Climb.”
At 11:23:45 AM, the PM suggested to the PF, “Hold there, left pedal.
Put left pedal, okay?” and later advised increasing the rate of climb to 300 ft/min.
At 11:24:52 AM, the PM commented, “This thing is not working…” shortly before the “Bank angle, Bank angle” warning blared, marking the final audio on the CVR.
A witness at the Nuim Antan duty station reported seeing the helicopter emitting thick smoke as it struggled to stay balanced before crashing into the ocean.
Following the incident, a search and rescue operation was launched, involving multiple agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), among others.
The NSIB’s report made a crucial recommendation for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure stricter compliance with the regulation requiring Flight Data Recorders (FDR) on helicopters with a maximum takeoff mass over 3,175 kg and up to 7,000 kg.
Alongside the Sikorsky crash Helicopter That Crashed Into Atlantic Ocean Had No Flight Data Recorder, Struggled Before Impact -NSIB
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), on Tuesday, released a preliminary report concerning the tragic crash of a Sikorsky S76C helicopter, registered 5N-BQG, operated by East Wind Aviation Logistics Services Limited. The accident occurred on October 24, 2024, in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Eket in the Bight of Bonny, resulting in the deaths of all eight occupants.
One of the most disturbing findings was that the helicopter was not equipped with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), a crucial safety feature required under the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 Part 7.8.2.2(q) for helicopters with a maximum takeoff mass between 3,175 kg and 7,000 kg. Additionally, the helicopter’s Radio Altimeter had been flagged as faulty and deferred six days before the accident.
The report also provided a detailed account of the initial findings surrounding the accident, including the helicopter’s final moments and crucial technical revelations. NSIB Director-General, Alex Badeh Jr., while addressing the media in Abuja, shared that investigators concluded the helicopter seemed to be “struggling to gain balance right before it crashed into the ocean.” The tragic incident took place in daylight at 11:25 AM, causing the aircraft to disintegrate upon impact with the sea.
According to Badeh Jr., the last recorded data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) revealed that the crew experienced significant difficulties before the crash.
The final moments were marked by the ominous warning, “Bank angle, Bank angle,” followed by smoke emanating from the engine ditch as the helicopter plunged into the water.
Investigators also discovered that the crew used non-standard phraseology throughout the flight, and no standard callouts were made during various phases of the flight, raising concerns about operational communication.
The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was recovered from the seabed on November 8, 2024, 13 days after the crash.
The device was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States for analysis, where the last 31 minutes of the recording were successfully retrieved. Key excerpts from the CVR include the following exchanges between the flight crew:
At 11:23:32 AM, the Pilot Monitoring (PM) remarked, “It’s a light shower,” followed by a chuckle, while the Pilot Flying (PF) instructed, “Climb, Climb, Climb.”
At 11:23:45 AM, the PM suggested to the PF, “Hold there, left pedal. Put left pedal, okay?” and later advised increasing the rate of climb to 300 ft/min.
At 11:24:52 AM, the PM commented, “This thing is not working…” shortly before the “Bank angle, Bank angle” warning blared, marking the final audio on the CVR.
A witness at the Nuim Antan duty station reported seeing the helicopter emitting thick smoke as it struggled to stay balanced before crashing into the ocean.
Following the incident, a search and rescue operation was launched, involving multiple agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), among others.
The NSIB’s report made a crucial recommendation for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure stricter compliance with the regulation requiring Flight Data Recorders (FDR) on helicopters with a maximum takeoff mass over 3,175 kg and up to 7,000 kg.
Alongside the Sikorsky crash report, NSIB also released updates on other incidents, including the serious incident involving a Beech Baron 58 aircraft operated by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria, as well as the crash of a Bell 429 Helicopter operated by the Nigeria Police Air Wing in Bauchi in 2022.reportin 2022.report, NSIB also released updates on other incidents, including the serious incident involving a Beech Baron 58 aircraft operated by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in Zaria, as well as the crash of a Bell 429 Helicopter operated by the Nigeria Police Air Wing in Bauchi in 2022.
