By Dickson Omobola

Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, Tuesday, revealed that the Sikorsky S76C+ operated by Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited was not fitted with Flight Data Recorder, FDR.

Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., who presented the preliminary report in Abuja, said this was despite the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, Nig. CARs, 2023 Part 7.8.2.2 (q), requiring all helicopters with a maximum take-off mass of over 3,175 kg and up to 7,000 kg be fitted with an FDR.

On October 24, 2024, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation en route from Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig ditched in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Bonny Finima, leading to the death of eight persons, six passengers and two crew members.

On October 30, 2024, one of the bodies was recovered, bringing the total bodies recovered to five, but up until this report was filed, the other three bodies had not been found.

Meanwhile, while presenting the preliminary report, Badeh said, “A Solid State Cockpit Voice Recorder, CVR, was fitted on the helicopter with the following particulars. The Cockpit Voice Recorder, CVR, was recovered from the seabed at the accident site on November 8, 2024, the 13th day after the accident. Upon recovery, the CVR was immersed in fresh water in a container and transported to the flight recorder laboratory of the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, of the United States of America for readout and analysis. The last 31 minutes of the CVR recording were successfully downloaded.

“The aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean and disintegrated. The main wreckage was found at coordinates 04° 13 ’37” N 008° 19′ 22” E at a depth of 42 m. While approaching the crash area, fuel was observed on the surface water. Helicopter debris and some personal belongings of the flight crew and passengers were scattered all over the area. The search and recovery operation continued day and night for 14 days. It was characterised by violent oceanic currents and waves, heavy rains, and strong winds.”