Bristow crash investigation: AIB concludes plans to fly UK flight recorders for downloading

Thirteen days after a Bristow Sirkorsky 76 – C ++ ditched into the Atlantic Ocean with nine passengers and two crew members rescued, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) says it has concluded plans to fly to the United Kingdom essential flight recorders for downloading.

The flight recorders include: Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR), Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Image Recorder (CIR).

At a briefing yesterday in Lagos, Felix Abali, the commissioner of AIB, said the cockpit image recorder would be taken abroad for downloading, because the laboratory of the bureau in Abuja cannot handle it.

This is just as he said ongoing investigations into the cause of the Bristow Helicopter crash is slow because of the inability of representatives of the aircraft manufacturers to secure visas into Nigeria.

Abali said as critical stakeholders in the accident investigation, the delay to secure visas for the aircraft manufacturers had had some impact on the probe into the accident because they have a role to play.

He said preliminary investigations thus far indicated that the crew did not have any alcohol in their system from the toxicology tests so far carried.

The AIB is working with global bodies to ascertain the cause of the crash, he said, affirming that previous accident report in the last six months indicated opened new vistas for safety recommendations.

Part of the safety recommendation to the manufacturers of the helicopter, Abali said, is the need to redesign a certain component of the chopper called “Push Rod.”

“As part of the ongoing investigation into the February 3, 2016, ditching of Bristow Helicopters’ Sikorsky 76C++ with registration number 5N-BQJ into the Atlantic Ocean, the AIB today released the following investigative update.

“The aircraft with nine passengers and two crew members had departed ERHA Oil Platform en route Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

“The crew declared May Day twice. The first was declared by the crew at the 78 Nautical Miles from Lagos complaining of instrument problems. The aircraft descended from 3000 feet to 1500 feet. At this time the Flying Officer (FO) was the Pilot Flying (PF),” he said.

According to Abali, “The Captain took over control expecting to stabilise the helicopter but the aircraft was not responding to control inputs. She declared the 2^ndMay Day to the Radio Operator at the offshore platform, which was relayed to the ATC by two separate aircraft.

“One aircraft was following the communication and relayed the ditching, which occurred at 10:20am at 29 Nautical Miles away from the platform.”

 

Ifeoma Okeke