On Tuesday, the Accident Investigation Bureau had disclosed why an AugustaWestland AW139 helicopter with Prof Yemi Osinbajo, The Vice-President and 11 others onboard crashed in the Kabba area of Kogi State.
The helicopter was operated by Caverton Helicopters Limited with the registration number 5N-CML was reported to have crashed on 2 Febuary 2019 which landed the copter on a football field in Kabba with both the passengers and the crew surviving and escaping death by a whisker.
On Tuesday, AIB, who’s the investigating commission in charge of all avaition-related accidents and incidents in the country releases its report from his findings which he titled,
“Final Report on the accident involving AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter which was operated by Caverton Helicopters Limited with nationality and registeration marks 5N-CML, which happened at Kabba, Kogi State on 2nd Febuary, 2019”.
The pilot of the crashed helicopter deployed an inappropriate landing technique.
Akin Olateru who is the Chief Executive Officer of the bureau had announced this during a meeting in Abuja reporting four accident by the AIB.
The agencies warned airlines to halt tampering with the recordings continued in Cockpit voice recorder in the event of crash or serious incident.
The CEO stated that any carrier guilty of such act will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The helicopter was said to have departed Lagos for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to lead a VIP charter flight from Abuja to Okene via Kabba and return back to Abuja before the crash incident occured that afternoon.
On the chartered aircraft there were 12 persons onboard including the vice president, his entourage and three crew members,(pilot,co-pilot and an engineer).
He stated that at about 50ft above the ground level, a brownout set in as the helicopter tried to land.
He added that the brownout condition caused the loss of external visual references, spatial disorientation and loss of situational awareness.
“The helicopter landed hard and rolled over on its right side.” Olateru