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Remember the helicopter that crashed in Ikeja, Lagos on August 28, 2020? Well, there are new reports about the crash.
The Bell 206 B3 Helicopter with registration marks 5N-BW operated by Quorum Aviation Limited that crashed in Ikeja, Lagos on August 28 crashed due to fuel shortage reasons.
Accident Investigation
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) reported on Monday that:
1.The pilot’s last medical examination was valid until 6th August 2020. There was no evidence to show that an application for the exemption provided by the All Operators’ Letter AOL DG020/20 had been submitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
2. The pilot’s last proficiency check was valid till 24th August 2020. There was no evidence to show that an application for the exemption provided by the AOL DG018/20 had been submitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
3. The helicopter had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.
4. The helicopter was topped to full tank capacity on 27th August 2020.
5. After refuelling, 10 minutes of engine run and 20 minutes of test flight were carried out on 27th August 2020 at Port Harcourt.
6. The helicopter was fitted with a range-extender fuel system.
7. No fuel jettisoning capability on this helicopter.
8. The helicopter has an endurance of 3:24 h.
9. The operational flight plan filed by the pilot indicated an endurance of 3:15 h and an estimated flight time of 2:45 h.
10.The helicopter engine was started at 09:15 h.
11.The helicopter took off at 09:20 h.
12.The helicopter crashed at 12:14 h.
13.There was no fuel left in the fuel tanks after the crash.
14. The mast and main rotor blades were found intact during the post-crash
What this means
The helicopter could use fuel for only 3 hours and 24 minutes. The helicopter was fuelled to full capacity on 27th August 2020. Afterwards, there was a 10 minutes engine run and a 15 minutes test flight. That is, 25 minutes of the fuel time had already been used.
The pilot estimated that the flight would take 2:45 mins, and took off 5 minutes after starting the engine.
The 30 minutes of test runs and delays ate into the fuel endurance limit of 3 hours and 24 minutes of the helicopter, which led to the crash.
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