AIB report reveals why DIG Haruna died in chopper crash

A report by the Accident Investigation Bureau into a police chopper crash which deputy inspector general of police John Haruna in 2014 says some discrepancies and non-compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations were observed in the operations of the Police aircraft. Investigations found the pilot medical had expired at the time of the crash […]

A report by the Accident Investigation Bureau into a police chopper crash which deputy inspector general of police John Haruna in 2014 says some discrepancies and non-compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations were observed in the operations of the Police aircraft.

Investigations found the pilot medical had expired at the time of the crash and his simulator recurrency was due for renewal, according to AIB commissioner Akin Olateru.

The chopper manufactured in 2012 before it crashed two years later was operated by the police and registered under a private category with the the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The report recommends that police should provide the proper funding, conducive working environment, develop and implement a robust training programme for its technical or operational personnel, with adequate supervision and approved equipment to enhance safety.

AIB also unveiled reports into three other crashes in Plateau state five years ago.

The agency also released report of serious incident involving a Tampico TB 9 aircraft belonging to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria NCAT and the ground collision involving Air Peace aircraft at the apron of the General Aviation Terminal of Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos on 20th April, 2017.

On the crashed of Tampico TB 9 aircraft operated by NCAT with the registration 5N-CBC, the accident occurred at Zaria aerodrome, Kaduna State on October 6, 2008.

Akinteru said: “On final approach, he had good attitude and airspeed control. The aircraft touched down around the first intersection about 600m from the runway 24 threshold, skidded, and veered off the centre line of the runway to the right."

The bureau also made four safety recommendations on the ground collision incident involving two Air Peace aircraft – Boeing 737-500 with the registration numbers 5N-BQR and Boeing 737-300 with tail number 5N-BQP- which occurred at Lagos airport.

The report said that the decision of the Captain to reposition the aircraft without requesting for a push-back, maneuvering the aircraft without the aid of Marshallers by relying on the company’s engineers who are inexperienced wing walkers were some of the factors responsible for the crash.

It called on Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to engage more Marshallers, and ensure adequate training and retraining the personnel.

Olateru added that the agency should also establish a quasi-apron control room at the domestic terminal.