The Accident Investigation Bureau  Nigeria (AIB-N) has released a total of 67 reports and 220 safety recommendations since its creation in 2007, out of which 48 reports and 139 safety recommendations were during the present administration.

While one is classified as accident, the remaining seven are serious incidents

The Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Bureau,Engr.Akin Olateru made this known in Abuja yesterday while releasing eight aircraft accident reports that occurred between 2010 and 2019 to the public,the biggest haul since the establishment of AIB-N.

He said the eight reports are being released with a total of nine safety recommendations, which are addressed to the Regulatory body, the affected airlines and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) among others.

The Bureau according to him, is very conscious of it’s critical role in assuring aviation safety in the country and globally.

“ We will continue to pursue this with all vigour as we have the men and the equipment, backed with government support, to ensure that AIB-N plays its role effectively and purposefully.”

“The Bureau, despite the paralyzing effects of COVID-19 has remained committed to its mandate and worked all through the pandemic to clear outstanding reports.”

“I would therefore like to commend our diligent and resourceful air safety investigators for their sacrifices and focus in delivering on the mandate.”

“It is, however, important to note that investigation of aircraft accidents or incidents entails the same procedure and processes, which are geared towards the same destination – Air safety.”

Olateru said “There are international dimensions to two of the reports we are releasing today. There is a Turkish Airlines owned aircraft,which was involved in one of the occurrences, while the other occurrence involving Arik Air took place in Accra Ghana.” 

 DETAILS OF THE REPORTS:

1.Reports released are on the Serious Incident involving a B737-500 aircraft operated by Air Peace Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BRN, which occurred at Port Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State On 22nd June, 2019.

2. Report on the Serious Incident involving HS-125-700A aircraft operated by Associated Aviation Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BEX, which occurred at Benin Airport, Edo state, Nigeria on 10th July, 2011.

3.Report on the Serious Incident involving a B737-200 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BIF owned and operated by Chanchangi Airlines, which occurred at Kaduna Airport, Runway 05, Kaduna State, Nigeria on 20th of August, 2010.

4.Report on the Serious Incident involving a Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 aircraft owned and operated by Arik Air Nigeria Ltd with nationality and registration marks 5N-BKX which occurred en route Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana on 6th March, 2018.

5.Report on the Serious Incident involving a Boeing 737- 500 aircraft operated by Med-View Airline with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQM, which occurred at FL320 en route Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos On 23rd July, 2019.

6.Report on the Accident involving a Hawker

Siddeley HS-125-800 XP aircraft owned and operated by

SWAT Technology Limited with nationality and registration marks N497AG, which occurred on Runway 21, Port-Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State On 11th June, 2015.

7.Report on the Serious Incident involving an Airbus 330-343 aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines Inc. with nationality and registration marks TC-LOL, which occurred at Port Harcourt Intl. Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, Nigeria On 31st December 2019.

8.Report on the Serious Incident involving Boeing 737- 300 aircraft owned and operated by Air Peace Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BUK which occurred at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on 15th May, 2019.

I will, however, crave your indulgence to run through the excerpts of four of them to save time. All the eight reports are already uploaded as we speak. I will enjoin the media and interested members of the public to check our website (www.aib.gov.ng) for the details of all the reports.

Report on the Serious Incident involving an Airbus 330-343 aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines Inc. with nationality and registration marks TC-LOL, which occurred at Port Harcourt Intl. Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State, Nigeria on 31st December 2019.

SYNOPSIS

All relevant stakeholders were notified. On 30th December 2019 at about 20:46 h, an Airbus A330-343 aircraft with nationality and registration marks TC-LOL operated by Turkish Airlines Inc. departed Istanbul Airport (LTFM), Istanbul; Turkey for Port Harcourt International Airport (DNPO), Omagwa, Rivers State; Nigeria, as a scheduled flight THY3WJ operating on Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan. There were 295 persons on board including 11 crew members.

The Captain was the Pilot Flying (PF), while the Co-Pilot was the Pilot Monitoring (PM). At 03:10 h, THY3WJ established two-way contact with Port Harcourt Approach reported descending to FL220 on-course NAPVA1, and received weather information with relevant clearances.

The aircraft touched down with its main landing gear at about 612 m from the threshold, right of the runway centreline, crossed the right-side runway strip marking onto the right runway shoulder, impacted and damaged three runway edge lights, and returned to the runway at a distance of about 1,037 m from the threshold.

The tyre marks further indicated that the aircraft returned to the runway centreline at about 1,478 m from the threshold. The approach was performed at night and the crew reported haze and patches of fog at low level. The Port Harcourt International Airport runway was equipped with only edge lights with no centreline and runway touchdown zone lights.

The investigation identified the following:

Causal factor

The extra right aileron and rudder input by the Pilot Flying in the last 100 feet caused the aircraft to drift right of the runway centreline.

Contributory factor

1. The inappropriate rudder application by the flight crew in the last 45 feet did not prevent the right drift before touchdown but rather increased the drift at touchdown.

2. The non-adherence to the provisions of the Standard Operating Procedures as contained in the Turkish Airlines Flight Crew Techniques Manual. One Safety Recommendation was made.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

Turkish Airlines Inc. should ensure flight crew adherence to provisions of the Standard Operating Procedures as contained in the Turkish Airlines Flight Crew Techniques Manual vis-à-vis landing techniques.

Report on the Accident involving a Hawker Siddeley HS-125-800 XP aircraft owned and operated by SWAT Technology Limited with nationality and registration marks N497AG, which occurred on Runway 21, Port-Harcourt Airport, Omagwa, Rivers State on 11th June, 2015.

SYNOPSIS

On 11th June, 2015, a HS-125-800XP aircraft with nationality and registration marks N497AG, operated by SWAT Technology Limited departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at 18:25 h for Port Harcourt as a charter flight. There were five persons on board inclusive of three flight crew and two passengers. The Captain was the Pilot Flying while the Co-pilot was the Pilot Monitoring.

At 18:48 h, during cruise at Flight Level 280, N497AG established contact with Lagos and Port Harcourt ATC units.

At 18:55 h, the aircraft was released by Lagos to continue with Port Harcourt.

Port Harcourt then cleared N497AG to descend FL210.

At 19:13 h, the crew reported field in sight at 6 nautical miles to touch down to the Tower Controller (TC). TC then cleared the aircraft to land, with caution “runway surface wet”. The crew experienced light rain at about 1.3 nautical miles to touch down with runway lights ON for the ILS approach.

At 19:16 h, the aircraft touched down with left main wheel in the grass and the right main wheel on the runway but was steered back onto the runway.

The nose wheel landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft stopped on the runway.

The engines were shut down and all persons on board disembarked without any injury.

The aircraft was substantially damaged.

The investigation identified the following:

Causal factor

Black hole effect disorientation causing low-level manoeuvre into grass verge.

Contributory factor

1. Most of the Runway 21 right edge lights were unserviceable at landing time.

2. Inadequate Crew Resource Management during approach.

One Safety Recommendation was made.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should ensure the serviceability of DNPO runway lighting systems during all operations.

Report on the Serious Incident involving a B737-200 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BIF owned and operated by Chanchangi Airlines which occurred at Kaduna Airport, Runway 05, Kaduna State, Nigeria on 20th of August, 2010.

SYNOPSIS

The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) was notified of the occurrence late on the 20th August, 2010 and investigators arrived Kaduna the following day. All relevant stakeholders were also notified.

On the 20th August, 2010 5N-BIF, a Boeing 737-200, owned and operated by Chanchangi Airlines Ltd., operated a series of flights commencing from Lagos between 14:38 h and 18:27 h as NCH198 and landed in Abuja without any incident.

The same aircraft now operated as NCH334 to Kaduna at 20:18 h with a total of 45 persons on board inclusive of nine (9) crew members with fuel endurance of 2 hours 40 minutes. The flight was normal but became unstable during approach to landing on Runway 05.

The aircraft descended in stormy weather, struck and uprooted the Non Directional Beacon (NDB) antenna 50 ft (15 m) high, some approach lights, and landed 240 meters short of the runway damaging three tyres: one on the nose wheel and one each on the main landing gear. The aircraft continued its movement into the runway, taxied to the ramp and parked. The three tyres were immediately replaced. This incident occurred at 20:41 h at night time.

None of the flight crew and passengers sustained any injury.

The investigation identified the following:

Causal factor

Loss of speed, altitude and situational awareness due to poor instruments’ scanning on short finals Runway 05.

Contributory factor

1. The airplane was flown at a high descent rate (825 fpm) when the aircraft was just 225 ft above runway during approach

2. Possible increase in crew workload due to thunderstorm activities in the vicinity of the airport.

No Safety Recommendations were made.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

In view of the issuance of the Nigeria CAR 2009 and the revision in 2015, which addressed the areas of shortcomings identified in this investigation, no safety recommendations are made.

Report on the Serious Incident involving a Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 aircraft owned and operated by Arik Air Nigeria Ltd with nationality and registration marks 5N-BKX which occurred en route Kotoka International Airport, Accra, Ghana on 6th March, 2018

SYNOPSIS

The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) was not officially notified of the serious incident involving a bombardier DHC-8-Q400 aircraft with Nationality and Registration marks 5N-BKX, which occurreden route Kotoka International Airport, Accra on 6th March 2018.

The Bureau only became aware of the incident following a post on social media on 8th March, 2018. The Bureau immediately contacted the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), being the state of occurrence for consultation and further clarification.

The Bureau’s Investigators were dispatched to the Air Force hangar within the Kotoka International Airport Accra, Ghana where the aircraft was parked and investigation commenced immediately. All relevant stakeholders were duly notified.

On 6th March 2018 at about 1810UTC, the scheduled flight ARA304 operated by Arik Air Nigeria – Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BKX, departed Murtala Mohammed Airport Lagos, Nigeria for Kotoka International Airport Accra, Ghana.

In his statement, which was corroborated by the cabin crew in their individual statements, the Captain stated that, at about 81 Nautical Miles to Accra VOR, smoke was observed in the mid-section of the cabin and seemed to be emanating from the right side air vents.

The Captain immediately declared the emergency to the Approach unit (APP), requested priority landing and evacuation, and instructed the cabin crew to prepare the cabin for an emergency landing.

The Captain stated that while executing the checklist “FUSELAGE FIRE, SMOKE or FUMES” in the aircraft Quick Reference Handbook (QRH), the smoke cleared before the localizer capture during the approach. ARA304 then informed Tower (TWR) that they would no longer evacuate passengers on the runway as initially planned as the smoke had cleared and therefore requested to exit the active runway on landing through taxiway “Y” to “E” bay.

The aircraft landed on Runway 21 at about 1911UTC. All persons on board disembarked without injuries.

The incident occurred at dusk in Instrument Meteorological Condition.

The investigation identified the following:

Causal factor

Engine oil leaked onto the hot surfaces of the engine No. 2 due to a failed seal which produced fumes that mixed with the bleed air supply to the air conditioning system, resulting in smoke in the aircraft cockpit and cabin.

Contributory factor

Nil

Two Safety Recommendations were made.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

Safety Recommendation 2021-028

Arik Air Nigeria Ltd should ensure that flight crew execute appropriate checklist items completely in line with the aircraft Flight Crew Operating Manual (FCOM) and Quick Reference Handbook (QRH).

Safety Recommendation 2021-029

NCAA should ensure that flight crew type-rated on Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 should undergo further training on “The effects of smoke in an enclosed area and actual use of relevant equipment in a simulated smoke environment”.

As I stated earlier, details of all the reports, which include the factual information, findings, analysis, conclusions and safety recommendations on the investigations are on our website.

I will like to appreciate the Hon. Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika for his unrelenting support for the Bureau without which it would have been almost impossible to attain all monumental achievements we have recorded in the last few years.