Posted by Sade Williams
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), on Monday, said the crashed Bell 206B III Helicopter with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQW operated by Quorum Aviation Limited (QAL), had no fuel in its tank as at the time of the accident.
According to a Preliminary Report released by the AIB, there was also no evidence to show that an application for the exemption provided by the AOL DG018/20 had been submitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
“The Pilot’s last medical examination was valid till 6th August, 2020. There was no evidence to show that an application for the exemption provided by the All Operators’ Letter AOL DG020/20 had been submitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
“The Pilot’s last Proficiency Check was valid till 24th August 2020. There was no evidence to show that an application for the exemption provided by the AOL DG018/20 had been submitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority” , the report said.
But Quorum Aviation has faulted this, saying it wrote a letter of exemption to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on August 18, 2029, requesting for the exemption of the pilot’s recency.
A letter sighted by test.clinztouch.com from the airline indicated that the company requested for the exemption through a letter signed by its managing director, Mr. Abiola Lawal.
The letter titled: ‘Request for the extension of our pilot’s recency’, our ref: NCAA/DOT/GEN012/20/002. Exemption document for pilot recency’, reads: ‘Given the challenges of the COVID-19 in organizing additional crew travel and training, we hereby wish to request for the exmption/extension of our pilot Chika Prudence Ernest Licences ATPL(H) 6245 under the above exmption granted by the DG in the above reference circular
“His proficiency expires on the 24 of August 2020 and his comprehensive medical are valid until the 6th of August 2023.”
“Captain Prudence is a well experienced Helicopter pilot and experienced PIC on the Bell 206 and we kindly appreciate if this application can be promptly approved to continue operations.”
“We are hopeful subsequently that things would have settled down post COVID for early next year travel for future proficiencies when exemption validity expires 31st December 2020 per the circular”, the Quorum letter reads.
test.clinztouch.com also sighted a circular by the NCAA issued on June 22, 2020, and notifying airlines of exmption on medical assessment and certificate.
It would be recalled that the helicopter crashed in Opebi Area, Lagos On 28th August, 2020, into the roof of a building and partly, the wall, damaging two cars in the process.
The report by the AIB indicated further that the helicopter had 3:15hrs endurance fuel, while the estimated flight time was 2:45hrs, adding that that the helicopter was topped to full tank capacity on August 27, 2020, stressing that after refuelling, 10 minutes of engine run and 20 minutes of test flight were carried out the same day at Port Harcourt.
“On 27th August 2020, a Bell 206B III helicopter with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQW, operated by Quorum Aviation Limited, was topped up with 247 litres of fuel to full tank capacity on ground Port Harcourt Military airport (DNPM). The technical logbook entry revealed that there was an engine run for 10 minutes and a test flight of 20 minutes in preparation for a positioning flight the next day.“
“The helicopter was topped to full tank capacity on 27th August, 2020. After refueling, 10 minutes of engine run and 20 minutes of test flight were carried out on 27th August, 2020 at Port Harcourt. The helicopter was fitted with a range-extender fuel system. No fuel jettisoning capability on this helicopter.
“The helicopter has an endurance of 3:24h. The operational flight plan filed by the pilot indicated an endurance of 3:15h and an estimated flight time of 2:45h. The helicopter engine was started at 09:15h. The helicopter took off at 09:20h.The helicopter crashed at 12:14h.There was no fuel left in the fuel tanks after the crash. The mast and main rotor blades were found intact during the post-crash inspection.”
The AIB however, insisted that the helicopter had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness as the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers’ License Validity was till 14th February, 2022 and Aircraft Ratings: Category A&C Agusta/Bell 206, Bell 212, Sikorsky S76, Eurocopter EC 155 helicopters while the Certificate of Airworthiness of the chopper was valid till 29th October 2020.
According to AIB, ‘at 11:45:34hrs, the aircraft established initial contact with Lagos tower and passed its traffic information as coming from Port Harcourt, maintaining 1000ft, estimating Lagos at 12:17hrs, with three persons on board and one-hour endurance, adding that Lagos tower acknowledged the call.
At 11:46:05hrs, Lagos tower requested the aircraft to report again its distance to the field (LAG VOR), while the pilot replied 20 miles to the field.
At 11:46:36hrs, tower requested 5N-BQW to verify that it was 20 miles to Lagos, its point of departure and the altitude it was maintaining.
At 11:46:46hrs, 5N-BQW replied that it was from Port Harcourt, maintaining 1000ft, estimating Lagos at 12:18hrs with three persons on board.
