HeadlineFinal Report On Osinbajo Helicopter Crash Released

Final Report On Osinbajo Helicopter Crash Released

Ask ZiVA 728x90 Ads

BEVERLY HILLS, July 28, (THEWILL) – The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has released a report which explained why an AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and 11 others onboard crashed in the Kabba area of Kogi State.

The chopper, operated by Caverton Helicopters Limited with registration number 5N-CML, crashed on February 2, 2019, during the heat of the 2019 elections, upon landing on a football field in Kabba with both passengers and crew escaping death by a whisker.

AIB, the investigating commission in charge of all aviation-related accidents and incidents in Nigeria, on Tuesday released its findings in a report titled, “Final Report on the accident involving AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter operated by Caverton Helicopters Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-CML, which occurred at Kabba, Kogi State on 2nd February, 2019.”

Glo

According to the report, AIB Commissioner, Akin Olateru, said the crew of the flight, which took off from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport for Kabba, sighted the intended landing area – a football field – and “approached with the speed of 20 kt to about a 100 ft, and entered a hover to land”.

But “at about 50 ft above ground level, a brownout set in. The flight crew lost visual contact with the ground and external surroundings” making the helicopter experienced a hard landing and subsequently rolling onto its right side.

The AIB added that other contributory factors aside the visual disorientation include “inappropriate landing technique used, non-adherence to company procedures for known or anticipated brownout conditions during landing, lack of risk assessment, limited landing site preparation and planning prior to commencement of the flight.”

ALSO READ: Helicopter Crash Strengthened My Faith – Osinbajo

It, therefore, advised the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to “consider whether the Presidential Air Fleet Unit should be involved in the coordination and preparation of all high profile Executive VIP mission (flights) in order to ensure that all Executive VIP flights are conducted in accordance with the PAF Unit’s Standards and in line with its approved operating procedures.”

The Commission also advised the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCCA) to conduct a Safety Management System audit of Caverton Helicopters.

About the Author

Homepage | Recent Posts

More like this
Related

Insurgency: NGO Trains 59 Traditional Rulers, Others On Inclusion Of Survivors, Deradicalised Women

March 29, (THEWILL)- A non-governmental organisation has trained...

Tinubu Appoints Abdullahi Bello New Chairman Of Code Of Conduct Bureau

March 28, (THEWILL)- President Bola Tinubu has approved the...