The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released its preliminary report on the Sikorsky helicopter operated by Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, Rivers State, on October 24, 2024.
The report revealed that the helicopter was not fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), a critical component mandated by Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023.
The crash, which resulted in the deaths of all eight persons on board, highlighted multiple regulatory lapses.
Speaking on Tuesday, NSIB Director General Alex Badeh confirmed the absence of an FDR, in violation of Part 7.8.2.2(q) of Nig. CARs, which requires FDR installation on aircraft certified to operate in Nigerian airspace.
Badeh further disclosed that the flight crew used non-standard phraseology throughout the flight, with no standard callouts for various flight phases.
Additionally, the helicopter’s Radio Altimeter (Rad Alt) had been reported faulty and deferred on October 18, 2024—six days before the accident.
The NSIB also noted that no dew point data was included in the weather information provided to the helicopter, identified as 5N-BQG, on the day of the incident.
Despite these findings, Badeh confirmed that the flight crew were certified for the operation, with the Captain serving as the Pilot Flying and the First Officer as the Pilot Monitoring during the initial phase of the flight.
The NSIB report reads: “The helicopter had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness. A Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan was filed.”
Badeh also disclosed that five bodies identified as the passengers were recovered, while the remaining three occupants of the helicopter, including the flight crew, are yet to be found.
He said the helicopter was fitted with a solid-state cockpit voice recorder.
He said the investigators were dispatched to the site the next day and commenced post-occurrence assessment under the provisions of the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations and Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
He said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority should ensure strict compliance to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 part 7.8.2.2(q) which requires that all helicopters with a maximum takeoff mass over 3175 kg and up to 7000 kg to be fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
