July 08, (THEWILL) – Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) on Thursday released eight aircraft accident reports to the public, including one classified as an accident, and the other remaining seven as serious incidents.
The eight reports were released with a total of nine safety recommendations, which are addressed to the regulatory body, the affected airlines and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) among others.
The reports include serious Incident involving a B737-500 aircraft operated by Air Peace Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BRN, which occurred at Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State On 22nd June, 2019; the Serious Incident involving HS-125-700A aircraft operated by Associated Aviation Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BEX, which occurred at Benin Airport, Edo State, Nigeria on 10th July, 2011; the Serious Incident involving a B737-200 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BIF owned and operated by Chanchangi Airlines, which occurred at Kaduna Airport, Runway 05, Kaduna State, Nigeria on 20th of August, 2010.
Others are report on the Serious Incident involving a Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 aircraft owned and operated by Arik Air Nigeria Ltd with nationality and registration marks 5N-BKX which occurred en route Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana on 6th March, 2018; the Serious Incident involving a Boeing 737- 500 aircraft operated by Med-View Airline with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQM, which occurred at FL320 en route Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos On 23rd July, 2019; the Accident involving a Hawker Siddeley HS-125-800 XP aircraft owned and operated by SWAT Technology Limited with nationality and registration marks N497AG, which occurred on Runway 21, Port-Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State On 11th June, 2015; the Serious Incident involving an Airbus 330-343 aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines Inc. with nationality and registration marks TC-LOL, which occurred at Port Harcourt Intl. Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, Nigeria On 31st December 2019 and the Serious Incident involving Boeing 737- 300 aircraft owned and operated by Air Peace Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BUK which occurred at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on 15th May, 2019.
Speaking at the release of the eight accident reports at the AIB Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, Thursday, Commissioner/CEO, AIB, Engr Akin Olateru said the Bureau is very conscious of its critical role in assuring aviation safety in the country and globally.
According to Engr Olateru, AIB will continue to pursue such a task with all vigour as the agency as the men and the equipment, backed with government support, to ensure that it plays its role effectively and purposefully.
Olateru said the reports released on Thursday covers the period between 2010 and 2019.
According to him, while one is classified as an accident, the remaining seven are serious incidents, stating that, “It is, however, important to note that investigation of aircraft accidents or incidents entails the same procedure and processes, which are geared towards the same destination –Air safety.”
The reports include Serious Incident involving a B737-500 aircraft operated by Air Peace Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BRN, which occurred at Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State On 22nd June, 2019; the Serious Incident involving HS-125-700A aircraft operated by Associated Aviation Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BEX, which occurred at Benin Airport, Edo state, Nigeria on 10th July, 2011; the Serious Incident involving a B737-200 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BIF owned and operated by Chanchangi Airlines, which occurred at Kaduna Airport, Runway 05, Kaduna State, Nigeria on 20th of August, 2010.
Others are report on the Serious Incident involving a Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 aircraft owned and operated by Arik Air Nigeria Ltd with nationality and registration marks 5N-BKX which occurred en route Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana on 6th March, 2018; the Serious Incident involving a Boeing 737- 500 aircraft operated by Med-View Airline with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQM, which occurred at FL320 en route Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos On 23rd July, 2019; the Accident involving a Hawker Siddeley HS-125-800 XP aircraft owned and operated by
SWAT Technology Limited with nationality and registration marks N497AG, which occurred on Runway 21, Port-Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State On 11th June, 2015; the Serious Incident involving an Airbus 330-343 aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines Inc. with nationality and registration marks TC-LOL, which occurred at Port Harcourt Intl. Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, Nigeria On 31st December 2019 and the Serious Incident involving Boeing 737- 300 aircraft owned and operated by Air Peace Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BUK which occurred at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on 15th May, 2019.
In the report on the Serious Incident involving an Airbus 330-343 aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines Inc., AIB stated that, “The Captain was the Pilot Flying (PF), while the Co-Pilot was the Pilot Monitoring (PM). At 03:10 h, THY3WJ established two-way contact with Port Harcourt Approach reported descending to FL220 on-course NAPVA1, and received weather information with relevant clearances.
“The aircraft touched down with its main landing gear at about 612 m from the threshold, right of the runway centreline, crossed the right-side runway strip marking onto the right runway shoulder, impacted and damaged three runway edge lights, and returned to the runway at a distance of about 1,037 m from the threshold.
“The tyre marks further indicated that the aircraft returned to the runway centreline at about 1,478 m from the threshold. The approach was performed at night and the crew reported haze and patches of fog at low level. The Port Harcourt International Airport runway was equipped with only edge lights with no centreline and runway touchdown zone lights.”
The investigation identified the causal factor to include the fact that the extra right aileron and rudder input by the Pilot Flying in the last 100 feet caused the aircraft to drift right of the runway centreline.
Contributory factors according to AIB include inappropriate rudder application by the flight crew in the last 45 feet which did not prevent the right drift before touchdown but rather increased the drift at touchdown.
The Bureau also observed non-adherence to the provisions of the Standard Operating Procedures as contained in the Turkish Airlines Flight Crew Techniques Manual. One Safety Recommendation was made.
In its safety recommendations, AIB advised Turkish Airlines Inc. to ensure flight crew adherence to provisions of the Standard Operating Procedures as contained in the Turkish Airlines Flight Crew Techniques Manual vis-à-vis landing techniques.
In the report on the accident involving a Hawker Siddeley HS-125-800 XP aircraft owned and operated by SWAT Technology Limited, AIB stated that there was “Black hole effect disorientation causing low-level manoeuvre into grass verge.”
Contributory factors, according to the Bureau include the fact that most of the Runway 21 right edge lights were unserviceable at landing time and also inadequate Crew Resource Management during approach.
One Safety Recommendation was made which entails that Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should ensure the serviceability of DNPO runway lighting systems during all operations.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
