The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has disclosed that the crashed Sikorsky helicopter operated by Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited, on 24 October 2024 was not fitted with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR).
BusinessDay recalls that the helicopter crash which occurred on October 24, 2024, took place off the coast of Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. and involved eight individuals onboard.
Speaking during the release of its preliminary report on Tuesday, Alex Badeh, Director General, NSIB said 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.
Badeh said the flight crew used non-standard phraseology throughout the flight, adding that there was no standard callouts for the various phases of the flight.
He also disclosed that the helicopter Radio Altimeter (Rad alt) was snagged and deferred on October 18, 2024, six days before the accident, adding that no dew point data was reported in the weather information passed to 5N-BQG on the day of the occurrence.
