Aircraft: AIB releases new final accident reports
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Thursday in Abuja said it had recorded a total of 72 accidents since its establishment in 2007.
AIB Commissioner, Mr Akin Olateru, made the disclosure when he released accident reports for the period between 2018 and 2020.
Olateru said the report was released as part of AIB’s mandate of investigating aircraft accidents and incidents with a view to enhancing air safety.
He, however, noted that while the Bureau had since its establishment in 2007, recorded 72 accidents, and the current administration had released a total of 53 reports till date.
“The reports of today contain a total of 12 safety recommendation, which are addressed to the regulatory body, the affected airlines, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), among others.
“The bureau has now released 232 safety recommendations since inception with 151 of the recommendations released by the current administration, “he said.
He said the report was released as part of AIB’s mandate of investigating aircraft accidents and incidents with a view to enhancing air safety.
“The reports to be released today include the accident involving Quorum Aviation Ltd., Bell 206B3 Helicopter with registration 5N-BQW, which occurred at Opebi, Lagos State on Aug.28, 2020.
“The accident involving Skypower Express Airways Nigeria Ltd., Air Tractor AT-401B Aircraft with 5N-BTV, which occurred at Rukubi Village 90NM South-East of Abuja on the Oct.4, 2018.
“The serious incident involving Nigeria Police Air Wing Bell 429 helicopter with registration 5N-MDA, which occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja on Aug. 3, 2019,“ he said.
He said that there was a serious incident involving Skypower Express Airways Nigeria Ltd. Cessna 172 Aircraft with registration 5N-APE at Bini Village, Niger State on Nov.19, 2019.
Olateru also released a report on the ground collision involving a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Truck with registration AKD765FK and Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Bell 412 helicopter with registration NAF 600 which occurred at NAIA.
He said the causal factor of the accident involving Quorum Aviation Ltd., Bell was fuel exhaustion at low altitude and low speed leading to loss of control in flight.
He said the causal factor of the accident involving Skypower Express Airways Nigeria Ltd., Air Tractor AT-401B Aircraft was an undetermined engine failure at low altitude that necessitated execution of emergency forced-landing on a farmland.
He attributed the causal factor of the serious incident involving Nigeria Police Airwing Bell 429 helicopter to lack of communication to update the crew on the current serviceability status of the ground handling wheel prior to arrival at DNAA.
Olateru mentioned that the causal factor of the serious incident involving Skypower Express Airways Nigeria Ltd., Cessna 174 Aircraft was the shift of the engine oil seal at the top of the push rod.
He said the causal factor of the bulleting report on the ground collision involving a CBN truck and NAF Bell 412 helicopter was the driver`s misjudgement of the clearance between the truck and the helicopter main rotor blades.
