The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has released the probe report of Caverton Helicopters which crash landed in Kabba on February 2, 2019 while conveying the vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to Kogi State,
Presenting the report in Abuja yesterday, the commissioner of AIB, Mr. Akin Olateru said the pilot of the helicopter used inappropriate landing techniques, and did not adhere to company procedures.
Olateru explained that the incident involved an Agusta Westland AW139 helicopter, operated by Caverton Helicopters and chartered to convey the vice president and eight other very important personalities.
The crew, according to the report could not sight the intended landing area as a result of the cloud of residual dust generated by the downwash of a police helicopter.
“After sighting the football field, the flight crew approached with the speed of 20kt to about a 100 ft, and entered a hover to land. At about 50ft above ground level, a brownout set in.
“The flight crew lost visual contact with the ground and external surroundings. The co-pilot began radio altitude callouts “35, 30, 25, 20 and 15”. At about 14:34hr, the helicopter experienced a hard landing on the right main landing gear and rolled over onto its right side. All persons on board were evacuated unhurt.”
He listed factors that contributed to the crash as “inappropriate landing technique used, non-adherence to company procedures for known or anticipated brownout condition during landing and lack of risk assessment, limited landing site preparation, and planning prior to commencement of the flight by the crew.”
As part of safety recommendations, the AIB asked the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to “conduct a Safety Management System (SMS) audit of Caverton Helicopters, and ensure that the airline has implemented the immediate safety recommendation 2019-003, the NCAA all operators Letter (FSG 002), and the recommendations documented in the Caverton Helicopters internal SMS investigation of this accident.”
The report was among the four published by the bureau.
The other reports were those of the incidents regarding the Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 aircraft, owned and operated by Aero Contractors with registration number 5N-BPU, which occurred in Lagos on April 18, 2017; Diamond DA-42 aircraft marked 5N-BNH, owned and operated by the International Aviation College, which occurred on Runway 23 of Ilorin International Airport on May 1, 2019; and Diamond DA-40 aircraft marked 5N-BRM, owned and operated by International Aviation College which also took place on Runway 23 of the Ilorin Airport on March 27, 2014.
