AIB releases preliminary reports on Dana, Delta incidents

The Accident Investigation Bureau has released the preliminary
report on the ongoing investigation into the incident involving
Dana Air’s MD-83 aircraft that overran the runway at the Port
Harcourt International Airport on February 20.

The bureau also released preliminary reports on Delta Airlines’
Airbus A330-223 aircraft, whose engine caught fire after take-off
from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as well as
the accident involving a Gulfstream G200 aircraft belonging to Nest
Oil, which occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja
on January 25, 2018.

According to the AIB, the reports contain factual information on
the three occurrences and not their probable causes as
investigations are still ongoing.

“They include information gathered from witness statements and
preliminary inspection of the aircraft and the accident sites. The
three reports have been uploaded to the bureau’s website,” the AIB
said in a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs,
Tunji Oketunbi, on Tuesday.

The bureau said its findings on Dana indicated that the runway
was wet and the crew were certified and qualified to conduct the
flight, while the first officer was the pilot flying and the
captain took over control at about six nautical miles to touch
down.

The AIB added that the aircraft was substantially damaged, the
runway approach lights and landing aids were also damaged, while
all persons on board were evacuated unhurt.

It stated, “The Dana Air MD-83, which took off from Abuja, had
an uneventful flight to Port Harcourt and was cleared to land by
the Air Traffic Control. The crew reported that the runway had
experienced recent rain before arrival and after touch down, looked
and felt contaminated with flood of water that did not drain
well.

“Other findings include the fact that after the aircraft came to
a complete stop, emergency evacuation was carried out using only
the left forward main door and the escape slide on this door did
not deploy just as the Public Address System did not work. The
Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service arrived during the
evacuation and all persons on board were evacuated unhurt.”

On Delta Airlines’ incident, the AIB said its findings indicated
that the flight crew were certified and qualified to conduct the
flight in accordance with applicable United States Federal Aviation
Administration regulations, but that the number one engine fire
warning came on about a minute after take-off, while the crew at
2252.25hrs contacted air traffic control and declared
emergency.

The investigation on Nest Oil aircraft, according to the bureau,
found that the departure, cruise and approach to the Abuja airport
were uneventful, and the aircraft was cleared to land on runway 22
but lost directional control during the landing roll and veered off
before resting on the right shoulder of the runway.

The Commissioner of AIB, Mr. Akin Olateru, stated that the
reports were promptly released to enhance safety.

“We are seriously committed to releasing investigation reports
on time. This is one way to ensure that such occurrences are
prevented from repeating themselves and conform with the purpose of
accident investigation,” he added.

The Accident Investigation Bureau has released the preliminary
report on the ongoing investigation into the incident involving
Dana Air’s MD-83 aircraft that overran the runway at the Port
Harcourt International Airport on February 20.

The bureau also released preliminary reports on Delta Airlines’
Airbus A330-223 aircraft, whose engine caught fire after take-off
from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos as well as
the accident involving a Gulfstream G200 aircraft belonging to Nest
Oil, which occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja
on January 25, 2018.

According to the AIB, the reports contain factual information on
the three occurrences and not their probable causes as
investigations are still ongoing.

“They include information gathered from witness statements and
preliminary inspection of the aircraft and the accident sites. The
three reports have been uploaded to the bureau’s website,” the AIB
said in a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs,
Tunji Oketunbi, on Tuesday.

The bureau said its findings on Dana indicated that the runway
was wet and the crew were certified and qualified to conduct the
flight, while the first officer was the pilot flying and the
captain took over control at about six nautical miles to touch
down.

The AIB added that the aircraft was substantially damaged, the
runway approach lights and landing aids were also damaged, while
all persons on board were evacuated unhurt.

It stated, “The Dana Air MD-83, which took off from Abuja, had
an uneventful flight to Port Harcourt and was cleared to land by
the Air Traffic Control. The crew reported that the runway had
experienced recent rain before arrival and after touch down, looked
and felt contaminated with flood of water that did not drain
well.

“Other findings include the fact that after the aircraft came to
a complete stop, emergency evacuation was carried out using only
the left forward main door and the escape slide on this door did
not deploy just as the Public Address System did not work. The
Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service arrived during the
evacuation and all persons on board were evacuated unhurt.”

On Delta Airlines’ incident, the AIB said its findings indicated
that the flight crew were certified and qualified to conduct the
flight in accordance with applicable United States Federal Aviation
Administration regulations, but that the number one engine fire
warning came on about a minute after take-off, while the crew at
2252.25hrs contacted air traffic control and declared
emergency.

The investigation on Nest Oil aircraft, according to the bureau,
found that the departure, cruise and approach to the Abuja airport
were uneventful, and the aircraft was cleared to land on runway 22
but lost directional control during the landing roll and veered off
before resting on the right shoulder of the runway.

The Commissioner of AIB, Mr. Akin Olateru, stated that the
reports were promptly released to enhance safety.

“We are seriously committed to releasing investigation reports
on time. This is one way to ensure that such occurrences are
prevented from repeating themselves and conform with the purpose of
accident investigation,” he added.