Crash: Sikorsky Helicopter flew without Flight Data Recorder – NSIB Report

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has disclosed that the Sikorsky Helicopter crash on October 24, 2024 occured because the helicopter flew without a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and also the crew used non-standard phraseology throughout the flight.

NSIB said non-fitting of a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) with the aircraft is contrary to part 7.8.2.2(q) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 which requires that FDR shall be fitted on the helicopter.

The helicopter crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar on October 24, 2024. All the eight persons onboard, including six passengers and two crew members, died in the crash.

The accident investigation report on Sikorsky Helicopter crash was among the six final accident reports and one preliminary report released by the NSIB on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 in Abuja.

The NSIB Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jnr, said the crash could have been averted if the helicopter had been fitted with Flight Data Recorder (FDR).

Captain Badeh enjoined NCAA to ensure strict compliance to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023 part 7.8.2.2(q) which requires that all helicopters with a maximum takeoff mass over 3175 kg and up to 7000 kg be fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).

“The flight crew were certified to conduct the flight. At the initial stage of the flight, the captain was the Pilot Flying while the First Officer was the Pilot Monitoring. The helicopter had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.

“A Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. 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 fitted with a solid-state cockpit voice recorder.

“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. There were no standard callouts for the various phases of the flight. The helicopter Radio Altimeter (Rad alt) was snagged and deferred on October 18, 2024, six days before the accident. No dew point data was reported in the weather information passed to 5N-BQG on the day of the occurrence.”