Two months after a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter crashed off Bonny Finima, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau revealed regulatory violations, including the lack of a Flight Data Recorder and non-standard crew communication.
The October 24 crash killed five and left three missing.
On October 24, East Aviation’s Sikorsky SK76 helicopter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar, killing eight people, including six passengers and two crew members.
The helicopter, contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), plunged into the sea while carrying the passengers.
Although five bodies have been recovered, three remain missing.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) recently released its preliminary findings, revealing several violations of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023.
The NSIB Director-General, Alex Badeh, confirmed that the helicopter lacked a required Flight Data Recorder (FDR), breaching Part 7.8.2.2(q) of the regulations.
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Additionally, the crew used non-standard phraseology throughout the flight, which could have caused confusion.
The report further revealed that the crew had deferred the helicopter’s radio altimeter just six days before the crash, leaving them without essential altitude data.
The cockpit voice recorder captured the final moments of the flight, including an aural warning: “Bank angle, Bank angle,” followed by smoke from the engine just before the helicopter ditched into the water.
Although, the NSIB did not confirm whether these violations directly caused the crash, the findings highlight significant gaps in regulatory compliance.
Consequently, the Bureau has urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure strict enforcement of the Nig. CARs, particularly the requirement for FDRs in helicopters of this type.
