Nigerian Flight Deck Travel and Business Reportage
- Clarifies aircraft has no capacity to dump fuel
ACCIDENT Investigation Bureau (AIB) Nigeria has clarified certain misconceptions surrounding Friday, 28 August, 2020, Bell Helicopter crash with registration marks 5N-BQW operated by Quorum Aviation limited.
The AIB through it commissioner, Engr. Akin Olateru also discarded rumours that the aircraft was dumping fuel before the crash calling on patience from the public to avoid insinuations as the preliminary report will be out in a couple of weeks.
According to the AIB Commissioner also the aircraft which is a light aircraft does not have a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) as it is a 5-seater and not certified for a ‘Blackbox.’
The AIB Commissioner said,” We are aware of the speculations circulating on social media and other public fora with regards to the probable cause of the crash and AIB’s retrieval of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), popularly known as the Black Box.
“We would like to clarify that AIB did not retrieve an FDR from the aircraft as the Bell 206 is certified at approximately 1,519kg (3,350lbs) and featured five seats. It does not meet the necessary criteria for an FDR and was not featured with one.”
“The standard requirement for an FDR in any aircraft is ten seats.”
He said that the FDR would have made it easier to conduct the investigation but that the Bureau has all it needs in terms of evidence and manpower to carry out a thorough probe into the crash
We are aware of the speculations circulating on social media and other public fora with regards to the probable cause of the crash and AIB’s retrieval of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), popularly known as the Black Box.
“It is extremely important to note that the Aviation Industry is the most regulated industry globally and its operations are regulated in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“The installation and application of FDRs in aircraft is guided by ICAO Annex 6, Parts 1 and 2. The basic standards for both Parts are essentially similar. Part 1 applies to commercial aircraft while Part 2 is for non-commercial operations.”
“An FDR on the aircraft would have aided the investigation but, nevertheless, our world class trained investigators are competent to retrieve information about a crash from the wreckage and several other components of the aircraft, the site of the crash, communication with the ATC, and other documents on the aircraft and the crew.”
On jettisoning fuel the commissioner of the Bureau simple stated,” The aircraft is not designed to jettison fuel”
The investigative body appealed for trust that it would complete the ongoing investigation and make the necessary safety recommendations that will help to prevent the future recurrence of a similar accident. Findings will be made public in due course.
