The Accident Investigation Bureau – Nigeria (AIB-N) has released its preliminary report on the cause of the accident of the police helicopter Bell 429 which crashed in Bauchi State.
The report was released in Abuja to journalists on Tuesday.
It said that the police’s helicopter,which departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, (NAIA), Abuja to Maiduguri on a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan with a planned technical stop at Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport, Bauchi crashed at 19:47hrs in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).
It gave several reasons for the accident of the helicopter with the registration number: 5N-MDA, including breakdown of onboard equipment and communication gaps between the crew and control towers.
The report said that before the aircraft took off, six souls onboard; three crewmembers and three passengers, contacted the Abuja tower 17:45hrs, requested for engine start to Bauchi and confirmed flight plan for the journey.
AIB-N in its preliminary report ,said that at 17:50hrs, the tower cleared the aircraft to Abuja control zone boundary en-route Bauchi not above 5,500ft and to standby lift.
It said the tower then passed prevailing wind as 110/04kts and further cleared the helicopter to lift, left turn out after lift in which the pilot responded in affirmative.
The report stated that the crew further stated that at 18:40hrs, when they were abeam Jos Airport, they made attempt again to establish two-way communication with Jos tower, but proved abortive.
Despite this, the flight still continued as filed, but at 18:46hrs, the helicopter tried to establish initial contact with Bauchi tower on 124.5 MHz without response.
According to the report, the crew continued its failed attempt to establish a two-way communication with the Jos tower every five-minute intervals until it they got to Bauchi control zone boundary, yet, continued with preparations for landing with the belief that even if the tower was closed, provided the airport was illuminated, they could land.
Unfortunately, at 5 NM to Bauchi, there was no sign of any lighting at the airport as the entire airport was in complete darkness.
The helicopter descended to 3,000ft and positioned for the runway centreline using Global Positioning System (GPS), but the pilot was able to have a visual contact with the runway centerline, which he later lost due to darkness and later initiated a ‘go around.’
It added: “During the final approach to land at the third attempt, the PM suddenly saw a tree on its flight path, which was neither detected by the GPWS nor the Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS). The crew verified that both systems were certified functional prior to the flight, also the Aural Warning (AW) did not sound and the visual display didn’t indicate that the aircraft was approaching an obstacle.
“Information available to AIB-N showed that up to 19:00hrs, there was no request for extension from NPAW, no information from either Kano ACC or Abuja Tower about late operation and there was also no flight plan message to Bauchi. The duty officer closed from duty at 19:00hrs.
“At about 19:47hrs, as the crew pulled up to avoid the tree, one of the main rotor blades hit the branches of the tree, while the helicopter tail rotor struck the tree, which resulted in the accident. At that moment when the skid of the helicopter had contact with the ground, Bauchi tower called 5N-MDA on radio “Aircraft calling Bauchi tower” and the PM replied “we are on ground.” Bauchi Tower further asked “confirm on ground air force side? “, but the crew did not respond. The crew and passengers disembarked without injury.”
The report stated that the helicopter was substantially damaged due to the impact of the accident.
AIB-N in the report, however gave 11 safety recommendations to the Nigerian Police Air Wing (NPAW), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
The report recommended that NPAW, as a non-commercial corporate aviation service operator, must adhere to the applicable provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs 2015) sub-part 8.6 on Flight Planning and Supervision, while also ensuring that its flight crew take cognisance and adhere strictly to the operating hours of destination and alternate airfields before the commencement of flights.
The agency advised NAMA to ensure adequate and timely coordination of Visual Flight Rule (VFR) flights between departure and destination aerodromes and also ensure that VFR flight operations are conducted within the weather minima and specified for such operations.
The report recommended that the NCAA should ensure that NAMA always verifies that all VFR flights arrive destinations within the operational duty hours of the destination airport and that the conducts of the flight meet the minimum VFR flights requirements, in accordance with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs 2015) and Nigerian Aerospace Management Agency’s approved manuals.
Besides, it said the regulatory agency should ensure that Nigeria Police Air Wing adheres to the applicable provisions of the Nig. CARs 2015 sub part 8.6 on Flight Planning and supervision.
