Barely two weeks after a Bristow Helicopter crashed into the ocean in Lagos state, reports have emerged that the pilot called for help twice from the Radio Operator at the offshore platform before the crash.
The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, disclosed this on Monday at the AIB headquarters located at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.
DAILY POST recalls that the Bristow Sikorsky S-76C+ helicopter said to be flying into Lagos from an oil rig in Delta State, February 3, was involved in a water landing crash near Lagos at about 10.25 a.m local time. It had on board eleven people who narrowly escaped death.
According to the AIB Commissioner, Felix Abali, who made the disclosure, the pilot called for help twice.
Abali noted that the first was declared by the crew at the 78 Nautical Miles from Lagos when he complained of instrument problems.
The Commissioner said, “The aircraft descended from 3,000 feet to 1,500 feet. At that time, it was the Flying Officer, FO, who was the Pilot Flying, PF.
“The Captain took over control expecting to stabilize the helicopter but the aircraft was not responding to control inputs.
“The pilot again called for help from the Radio Operator at the offshore platform, which was relayed by two separate aircraft.
“One aircraft was following the communication and relayed the ditching, which occurred at 10:20am at 29 Nautical Miles away from the platform,” the Commissioner said, adding that it will send some of the black boxes abroad to determine the actual cause of the crash.
Speaking further, Abali pointed out that a thorough investigation was ongoing to determine the actual cause of the crash.
“Initial field investigation was carried out by the AIB and vital components relevant to the investigation including Flight Data Recorder FDR/Cockpit Voice Recorder, CVR and the Cockpit Image Recorder, CIR, were retrieved for further investigation.”
He said the black boxes would be sent outside the country because the AIB equipment at its laboratory in Abuja could not download one of the black boxes.
“The black boxes will be flown outside the country especially one of the boxes that we have is Cockpit Image Recorders, and these boxes, unfortunately, we do not have the equipment to download them here.
“We are taking them to the United Kingdom, UK. Essential flight recorders will be flown out for downloading while TRIM actuators will be sent to the manufacturers for investigative testing,” the Commissioner added.
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