The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released the preliminary report on the crash of a Sikorsky helicopter which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Finima in Bonny, Rivers State killing all eight people onboard.

The. crash report of the Sikorsky helicopter marked S76C with registration 5N-BQG operated by East Wind Aviation Logistics Services Limited formed part of the other previous six crashes whose reports just released by NSIB are the final reports.

Releasing the Sikorsky crash report, the director general of the bureau Captain Alex Badeh, in the findings of the investigating team cited how a person on duty at Nuim Antan reported to the Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO) that he saw a helicopter from the western route with thick smoke emanating from the engine ditch into the water.

According to the findings: ?The personnel stated that the helicopter appeared to be struggling to gain balance right before it crashed into the ocean. The HLO reported calling 5N-BQG via radio three times, but there was no response, so they immediately made a PAN PAN call. Search and rescue operation was activated involving combined efforts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), HD PIONEER Hydro Drive, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and several ships that were sailing around the vicinity of the accident site.?

The report also indicated that the ill-fated helicopter Radio Altimeter (Radait) was snagged and deferred on October 18th when the same helicopter finally crashed on October 24, 2024.

This preliminary report provides details of the initial facts, discussions, and findings surrounding the occurrence. It includes information gathered from witness statements, Cockpit Voice Rec.

According to the NSIB report: ?On 24 October 2024, a Sikorsky S76C+ Helicopter with nationality and registration marks 5N-BQG operated by Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited 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.?

The report also Indicated that the helicopter was not fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) as against the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 Part 7.8.2.2(q) which requires all helicopters with a maximum take-off mass of over 3, 175kg and up to 7,000kg shall be fitted with an FDR.

The report also showed the medical certificate: valid till 30 June 2025 while the simulator is valid till 18 April 2025 just as the Instrument rating is valid till 18 April 2025 and the proficiency check till 11 January 2026.

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was recovered from the seabed at the accident site on 8 November 2024, the 13th day after the accident.

?Upon recovery, the CVR was immersed in fresh water in a container and transported to the flight recorder laboratory of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States of America for readout and analysis. The last 31 minutes of the CVR recording were successfully downloaded.?

The aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean and disintegrated with the main wreckage found at Coordinates 04?13?37? N 008?19?22? E at a depth of 42 m.

The report also revealed that while approaching the crash area, fuel was observed on the surface water. Helicopter debris and some personal belongings of the flight crew and passengers were scattered all over the area.

Other reports released by the NSIB included a final report on the serious Incident involving Beech Baron 58 aircraft operated by Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria with nationality and registration marks 5N-CAG which occurred on runway 05 at General Hassan Usman Katsina International Airport, Kaduna Nigeria on 31 December 2022.

Final report on the accident involving a Bell 429 Helicopter operated by Nigeria Police Air Wing with nationality and registration marks 5N-MDA, which occurred at Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport Bauchi, Nigeria on 26 January 2022 among others. (Nigerian Tribune)

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