Osinbajo’s helicopter crash: AIB releases report

Eleven days after the accident involving the Agusta Westland W139 helicopter belonging to Caverton Helicopters conveying Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo crash-landed in Kabba, Kogi State, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday has released the report of the crash.

The AIB attributed the February 2, 2019 crash of the Chopper with registration number 5N – CML to what it called effects of a brownout generated during its landing in a dry dusty environment declaring that Caverton should have carried out risk assessment test at the Kabba stadium before the flight.

Brown out in aviation parlance means a condition generated during landing in a sandy and dusty environment.

The helicopter which crash-landed at Kabba Stadium in Kogi State with the Vice President and other Eleven delegates on his entourage on board was manufactured in 2012.

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Speaking at a briefing at the headquarters of the AIB at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the. Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Akin Olateru said though the investigation into the crash was still ongoing, it has however issued two safety recommendations to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the operator of the helicopter, Caverton Helicopters Limited.

Following the experience, Olateru said the NCAA should at once issue an advisory circular to helicopter operators on the effects of brown out and how to mitigate its effects.

The second safety recommendation from the committee that investigated the crash according to Olateru is for Caverton Helicopters to carry out proper risk analysis and assessment before operating flights into unapproved landing pad.

He, however, declared that the final report on the accident will be released in a few months.