The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Wednesday released the report of the helicopter crash involving the Agusta Westland W 139, Caverton Helicopters, which flew Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to Kabba in Kogi State recently.
The AIB attributed the February 2, 2019 crash of the Chopper, marked with registration number 5N – CML, to effects of a brown out generated during its landing in the dry dusty environment.
The report, however, noted that Caverton should have carried out risk assessment tests at the Kabba stadium before the flight.
Brown out in aviation parlance means a condition generated during landing in a sandy, dusty environment.
TheNewsGuru.com, TNG, recalls that the chopper operated by Caverton Helicopter crash landed at Kaaba Stadium in Kogi State when the Vice President went on a campaign cum empowerment programme to Kogi state. It had Prof Osinbajo and his entourage and three crew members on board when it flipped, and crashed during its landing process.
The chopper was manufactured in 2012.
Speaking at a briefing at its headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, AIB Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru said though the investigation into the crash is ongoing, it has however issued two safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the operator : Caverton Helicopters Limited.
Olateru said the NCAA should issue advisory circular to helicopter operators on the effects of brown out and how to mitigate its effects.
The second safety recommendation, Olateru said is for Caverton Helicopters to carry out proper risk analysis and assessment before operating flights into unapproved landing pad.
He said the final report on the accident will be released in few months.
