22/09/20
[post-marguee]
DANIELS G. O
PRESS RELEASE
The Accident investigation Bureau AIB has released the preliminary report on the accident involving a Bell 206B helicopter marked 5N-BQW operated by Quorum aviation limited which crashed into residential buildings in Opebi area of lagos on the 28th August 2020
According to the report by the AIB their was no fuel left in the helicopter when it crashed adding that the helicopter do not have the capacity to jettison fuel.
The report also disclosed that the helicopter was topped up with 247 litres of fuel to full tank capacity on ground at the Port Harcourt Military airport (DNPM) on the 27th August 2020
It was also revealed that after refuelling, there was an engine run for 10 minutes and a test flight of 20 minutes
“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.
“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 preliminary report on the aircraft stated that helicopter had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness as the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers’ License Validity was till 14th February, 2022 while the Certificate of Airworthiness of the helicopter was Valid till 29th October 2020.
On the crew, the AIB report indicated that, the Pilot’s last medical examination was valid till 6th August, 2020, as 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, and 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 Bell helicopter belonging to Quorum aviation limited had crashed into residential buildings in Opebi area of lagos on 28th August 2020, with three persons dead
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