Just two months after the tragic crash of an East Aviation-operated Sikorsky SK76 helicopter in Port Harcourt, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed significant violations of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (NCAR).
While the bureau has not confirmed whether these breaches directly contributed to the crash, the findings underscore serious gaps in regulatory oversight.
The helicopter, contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), went down into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar, on October 24. Onboard were six passengers and two crew members. To date, five bodies have been recovered, but three victims remain missing.
In a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, NSIB Director-General Alex Badeh presented the preliminary findings, detailing critical regulatory failures.
The helicopter was not equipped with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), a clear violation of the Part 7.8.2.2(q) section of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023. Additionally, the crew’s use of non-standard phraseology throughout the flight raised further concerns about adherence to safety protocols.
The report outlined several other issues:
The helicopter was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder but lacked a Flight Data Recorder, contrary to the required regulations.
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The flight crew failed to use standard callouts during various phases of the flight.
The helicopter’s radio altimeter had been deferred and was non-operational six days before the crash.
The weather data provided to the flight crew did not include dew point information.
Badeh also shared insights into the final moments of the flight, explaining that investigators found the helicopter struggling to maintain balance before it crashed into the ocean.
The crew’s struggle was marked by an urgent “Bank angle, Bank angle” warning from the aircraft, followed by the last recorded sound of smoke from the engine before the helicopter plunged into the water.
In addition to the Sikorsky crash, the NSIB released reports on several other incidents, including a serious accident involving a Beech Baron 58 aircraft operated by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, which occurred at Kaduna’s General Hassan Usman Katsina International Airport on December 31, 2022.
The NSIB has urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to enforce stricter compliance with the regulations, particularly the mandate that all helicopters with a maximum takeoff mass of over 3,175 kg and up to 7,000 kg be fitted with a Flight Data Recorder.
