Accident Investigation Bureau Concludes Investigation On Osinbajo’s Helicopter Crash

Accident Investigation Bureau Concludes Investigation On Osinbajo’s Helicopter Crash

Three
days after an Agusta AW 139 helicopter flying Vice President Yemi
Osibanjo crashed in Kabba, Kogi State, the Accident Investigation Bureau
(AIB) has concluded investigations on the accident.

According to a report by TheNation,  the  investigation came on the
heels of gathering of series of evidences which included: inspection of
the chopper wreckage at the crash site; interview of airline crew such
as pilots, engineers and other technical personnel; analysing eyewitness
accounts, as well as laboratory testing of the broken rotor and other
parts of chopper.  

The paper quoted a source at the AIB saying the preliminary report of
the accident will be released soon, but no probable cause(s) has been
given as the reason for the crash. Another source close to Caverton
Helicopters, managers of the crashed chopper, said its insurers have
arrived the country to participate in the probe. The source hinted that
the insurers, sought permission from the AIB for access to the crash
site to carry out valuation of the wreckage and other relevant activity
critical to the accident probe.  

Besides the insurers, it was not clear as at Monday if the helicopter
manufacturer, Agusta, would participate in the inquiry.  According to
the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)-prescribed aviation
regulations, the aircraft manufacturers ought to participate in the
investigation. The involvement will enable the manufacturer learn useful
lessons in preventing a reoccurrence; if there are issues with the
equipment design or other technical hitches.  

Tunji Oketumbi, spokesman of the AIB, said the bureau had concluded
preliminary investigation on the crash, which he described as “high
profile”, because of the status of the occupant in the ill-fated
chopper. He said an accident could be so described, if the aircraft was
carrying many influential people; or there are many multi-nationals.  

Oketumbi said: “so far, the AIB has done what is statutorily
required of it. We did not require any foreign assistance. We have
carried out the relevant findings at the crash site and interviewed the
crew and other people relevant to the operation. So, far, the helicopter
wreckage has not been removed.”  

He, however, took exception to the remarks attributed to Caverton
Helicopters which suggested the probable cause(s) of the crash.
 According to him, besides giving flight information – type of aircraft;
registration number; number of occupant in the aircraft and
circumstances of the accident, the airline should refrain from
speculating the cause of the crash.  Doing such, Oketumbi said, would
amount to pre-empting the investigation.