The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) said the accident involving Quorum Aviation’s Bell 206 helicopter, 5N- BQW that crashed on Aug. 2020 was caused by inadequate fuel for the aircraft to arrive its destination.
AIB-N Commissioner, Mr Akin Olateru, made the disclosure during the release of four final reports on Thursday through a zoom conference at the bureau headquarters in Abuja.
The Business Intelligence (TBI Africa) recalls that the Quorum Aviation’s Bell 206 helicopter, 5N- BQW went down at Opebi in Lagos and claimed lives of all crew on board.
Fuel endurance means the total time that an airplane stays in the air on a full tank of fuel.
Endurance is not measured from zero to end, you must have a minimum at any given time and you have to calculate your alternate airport.
Olateru noted that the reports AIB was releasing covered the period between 2018 and 2020, adding that two were classified as accidents, two are serious incidents and one safety bulletin.
The commissioner explained that there was fuel exhaustion at low altitude and low speed landing leading to loss of control in flight.
He noted that the decision of the pilot to continue the flight to the intended destination with insufficient fuel instead of landing as soon as practicable in line with section: 12.1.12 of Quorum Aviation limited operations manual Part A.
The commissioner also blamed lack of effective management supervision of the airline’s flight operations and inadequate safety oversight to the cause of the crash.
Olateru also released three safety recommendations to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
He said: “An air operator certificate holders who wish to combine flight duty with multiple post position, provide NCAA with comprehensive safety risk mitigation measures to ensure that safe operations can be achieved.
“Secondly, NCAA must try to ensure that Quorum Aviation Limited takes steps to resolve the violation of its approved safety procedures and the Nigerian Civil Aviation regulations (NCARs)
“The airline must make sure that all its personnel are well acquainted with their respective schedules of responsibilities and are capable of discharging their duties effectively in line with their standard operating procedures.”
The AIB-N boss also reeled out other accidents and serious incidents reports including Sky Power Express with registration marks 5N- BTV which occurred near Abuja on Oct. 4, 2018.
He added that other serious incident involving Nigeria Police aircraft with registration 5N- MDA on Aug. 3, 2019; another Skypower Express Cessna aircraft 5N- AP which happened in Niger State Nov. 19, 2019.
Olateru announced the bulletin which gave insights to the ground collusion between a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) truck AKD765FK and a Nigerian Airforce Bell 412 helicopter.
According to him, the helicopter is with registration NAF 600 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja in 2020.
He said in all, 12 safety recommendations were addressed to the regulatory agency, airlines and airport managers.
