NSIB Lists Factors Responsible for Sikorsky Helicopter Crash that Killed Eight on Board

•Cites poor accurate weather reporting, inefficient communication system  

•Pilot of crashed police Bell 429 helicopter not qualified to conduct flight operations   

•United Nigeria Airlines’ failure to probe root cause of problems led to engine flame out

Chinedu Eze

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has disclosed that crashed Sikorsky helicopter operated by  Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited, in which eight people onboard died, might have crashed due to many causative factors, which included poor accurate weather reporting and inefficient communication.

The tragic accident took place off the coast of Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean on October 24, 2024.

NSIB also issued reports on other accidents and incidents, including the fact that the pilot of the police Bell 429 Helicopter, which crashed on January 26, 2022,  wasnot qualified to conduct flights, being the major factor that led to the accident.

NSIB further revealed that United Nigeria Airlines’ failure to probe root cause of snags recorded by the aircraft led to the flame out (run down) of its engine.

Speaking during the release of its preliminary report, yesterday, the Director General, NSIB, Alex Badeh, said the Sikorsky 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 required that FDR shall be fitted on the helicopter.

According to NSIB, the ill-fated equipment was unfortunately not fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).

Among other factors identified by NSIB during preliminary investigation of the crash, it noted use of non-standard phraseology by the flight crew; absence of standard callouts during various flight phases; defective radio altimeter (snagged six days prior and deferred) and incomplete weather data provided to the flight crew.

In addition to the fact that the helicopter was not equipped with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), contrary to regulatory requirements, its radio altimeter was inoperative and deferred before the flight and the crew failed to utilise standard phraseology and callouts during critical phases of the flight in addition to the fact that there was evidence of poor communication and inadequate decision-making in adverse weather conditions.

NSIB, therefore, recommended that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should ensure that all helicopters with a maximum take-off weight exceeding 3,175kg were equipped with functional Flight Data Recorders (FDR) as required by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023.

NSIB also recommended that NCAA should reinforce the use of standard callouts and phraseology in all flight operations through enhanced crew training and also provide comprehensive weather reports to operators and ensure accuracy in critical flight data.

NSIB stated, “The accident involving Sikorsky S76C+ (5N-BQG) highlights significant gaps in operational decision-making, compliance with regulations, and communication during adverse weather conditions. The NSIB’s recommendations aim to address these issues and enhance the safety of helicopter operations in Nigeria’s aviation sector.”

Further findings, according to the Director General 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.

NSIB also 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. 

In another development, NSIB has disclosed that the crashed Bell 429 helicopter owned and operated by Nigeria Police Air Wing, which occurred at Sir AbubakarTafawa Balewa Airport, Bauchi, January 26, 2022, was operated by a pilot not qualified to operate the flight.

Speaking during the conference in which the agency released seven investigation reports, Badeh, disclosed the pilot was licenced, certified and appropriately type-rated as Part 2 on the Bell 429 helicopter, which confered the privileges of second-in-command on the pilot.

Badeh however noted that the pilot was not eligible to conduct the flight exercising the privileges and authorities of the Pilot In Command (PIC) except he is appropriately type rated on Bell 429 helicopter, per subsections 2.3.1.3 – (a), (b), and (c), 2.3.2.1 – (a)(3) and (b), and 8.14.9.4 of the Nig. CARs 2015; respectively.

He said therefore, the investigation determined that the pilot was not qualified and not competent to operate the flight as the PIC, having not met the requirements stipulated in the relevant sections of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2015.

He also disclosed that the Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) issued to the Nigeria Police Air Wing (NPAW) by the NCAA expired in September 2017 and was not renewed.

In another report on the United Nigeria Airlines’ flight incident, NSIB stated that the failure of the airline to probe root cause of engine problem it had  eventually led to an engine flame out.

It recalled that on 17 November 2021, United Nigeria Airline’s flight to Lagos from Abuja, made an air return after the pilots noticed an engine problem.

As the aircraft lined up for take-off, an advisory light “impeding bypass” illuminated for the number one engine.

“During the takeoff roll, a loud bang was heard from the rear of the aircraft.  The takeoff was continued and at 4000ft, another bang was heard, and the engine flamed out, necessitating an air return to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,” the report stated.

Badeh said further investigation was needed to detect the root cause of the engine problem and how failure to do so contributed to the airline’s engine flaming up.