Late Suntai pilot not competent to fly aircraft – AIB report – TheNigerialawyer

The Accident Investigation Bureau has identified the factors
that led to the crash of the helicopter conveying the late Taraba
State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, and three other occupants on
October 25, 2012.

In the report released on Thursday, the AIB said the pilot was
not certified, qualified and competent to fly the Cessna 208B
Caravan aircraft with registration number 5N-BMJ, which crashed in
Kwanan-Waya Village in Yola.

The Commissioner and Chief Executive officer, AIB, Akin Olateru,
while disclosing the findings of its investigations of six
accidents and serious incidents in the aviation industry, stated
that although the pilot had a private pilot licence, he was not
trained to handle the aircraft.

Other contributing factors, according to him, are the decision
of the pilot to operate a VFR flight after sunset and inadequate
oversight by the regulatory authority.

Giving more details of the accidents, he said the pilot did not
have instrument ratings and night flight privileges as it was
conducted at sunset and reported an incorrect estimated time of
arrival as 10:01 UTC as against the time 17:19 UTC.

“The pilot reported the number of persons on board as six to the
control tower as against four actual persons found after the
accident. The control tower was notified about 5N-BMJ departure by
a phone call from Jalingo after the aircraft was airborne,” he
added.

Although no life was lost in the crash, it was reported that the
late governor sustained brain injuries, which incapacitated him
from performing his official duties and that he underwent
rehabilitation until his demise in 2017.

The report advised Nigerian Airspace Management Agency to
relocate the existing control tower at Yola Airport in order to
enhance the aerial view of the approach path of runway 35 and asked
the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that regulations
and certifications of relevant personnel and facilities of the
Ministry of Works and Transport, Taraba State Government were
appropriately complied with.

In another accident involving Bristow Helicopters Sikorsky
S76C++ Helicopter with registration number 5N-BQJ, at the Murtala
Muhammed Airport, Ikeja on February 3, 2016, the commissioner said
it was caused by non-adherence of the crew to company’s operations
manual regarding after take-off checks.

Olateru added that the crew failed to disengage the autopilot to
fly the aircraft manually.

The agency advised Bristow Helicopters to ensure that flight
crew follow approved checklist items, and procedures at all times
and should consider reviewing the procedures for returning crew
back to flight duties after staying out of flight duty for up to 30
days.

The commissioner said underestimation of heavy rain, visibility
and strong wind on short final and landing caused another accident
involving a Boeing MD-83 aircraft operated by Dana Airlines, which
occurred at Port Harcourt International Airport on February 20,
2018.

He said the crew on the aircraft with registration number 5N-SRI
lost communication with the Air Traffic Control during the final
approach, preventing the flow of information on runway surface
condition, adding that the crew failed to crosscheck the prevailing
wind and obtain landing clearance after contact was restored.

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