Port Harcourt Helicopter Crash: The Crashed Aircraft Had No Flight Data Recorder, Says NSIB Report

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has reported that the Sikorsky S76C helicopter, with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQG, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in October, was not equipped with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).

The Sikorsky helicopter was operated by Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited.

The bureau released six final accident investigation reports and one preliminary report of different accidents that occurred between 2021 and this year.

It said the helicopter was on a drop-off and pick-up operation of oil workers to Nuim Antan, a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility located near the Bight of Bonny in the Atlantic Ocean when it crashed.

The aircraft had six passengers and two crew members onboard. All of them were fatally wounded.

According to NSIB, five bodies of passengers have been recovered, while three others remain missing.

NSIB’s Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., said pathological tests were conducted on some of the recovered bodies following approvals from their families.

The agency boss said one of the families of the victims demanded that a DNA test be conducted on the recovered body to ascertain the identity.

Highlighting some of the findings, he said: “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.

“The helicopter was not fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), although Part 7.8.2.2(q) of Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2023 requires that FDR shall be fitted on the helicopter.

“The flight crew used non-standard phraseology throughout the flight and there were no standard callouts for the various phases of the flight.”

According to him, the helicopter Radio Altimeter (Rad alt) was snagged and deferred on October 18, six days before the accident.

On the pathological test, Capt. Badeh Jr. said: “Pathological tests have been conducted, but their reports have not been sent to us. They are doing both autopsy and pathology. Pathology takes a little longer time because it’s forensic.

“The bodies are under the custody of the police. Our job is to take the samples for the examination, which we’ve done. Some of the bodies have been released to the family members by the police. So, we are not in custody of the bodies any longer.

 “The last body that was recovered had an issue. The family identified it, but they still requested a DNA test because the body was really bad. So, the operator is now taking charge of the DNA test. Ours is pathology, which we have done. The DNA is now being handled by the operator.”

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 3,175 kg and up to 7,000 kg be fitted with an FDR.

Commenting on the implication of a helicopter not having the FDR, the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Godwin Balang said: “FDR is not an active component for safe operation directly, but it is used to investigate accidents; it is used to help you understand what happened.

“The black box has two components: a cockpit voice, where you record the voice, and then the data. The FDR helps to recreate the incident. So, if you don’t have it, then you are limited in terms of what you will be able to recreate.”