Helicopter that crashed in Opebi has no fuel- AIB report

The Accident and Investigation Bureau has published a preliminary report of the Bell helicopter crash of August 28 at Opebi in Ikeja on its way to the Murtala Muhammed airport,Ikeja . The report revealed that the helicopter which had 247 litres of fuel which is its full tank,has no fuel in t by the time it crashed barely two hours after take – off from Port Harcourt International airport.
See full report below:
PRELIMINARY REPORT
Accident Investigation Bureau
Preliminary Report on Accident involving a Bell
206B III Helicopter with nationality and registration
marks 5N-BQW operated by Quorum Aviation Limited
(QAL) which occurred at Opebi Area, Lagos On 28th
August, 2020
Preliminary Report
5N-BQW
i
Registered owner and operator: Quorum Aviation Limited
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Textron, Canada
Aircraft type and model: Bell 206B III
Year of manufacture: 1980
Serial number: 3216
Nationality and registration marks: 5N-BQW
Location: Opebi, Lagos
Distance: 2.5 NM, 083° from
Murtala Muhammed International
Airport
Coordinates:
6°35’25.57 N, 3°21’46.77 E
Elevation: 88 ft
Date and Time: 28th August, 2020 at about 12:14 h
All times in this report are local time
(UTC +1) unless otherwise stated
Preliminary Report
5N-BQW
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INTRODUCTION
Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) was notified of the accident by an eyewitness on
28th August 2020. Investigators were dispatched to the accident site and commenced
post occurrence assessments, under the provisions of Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air
Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 2019 and ICAO Annex 13.
The purpose of this preliminary report is to provide details of the initial facts gathered
so far including discussions and findings surrounding the occurrence, information
gathered from the witness accounts and a post occurrence inspection of the wreckage
at the scene.
The investigation is ongoing.
Preliminary Report
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1.0 FACTUAL INFORMATION
1.1 History of the flight
On 27th August 2020, a Bell 206B III helicopter with nationality and registration marks
5N-BQW, operated by Quorum Aviation Limited, was topped up with 247 litres of fuel to
full tank capacity on ground Port Harcourt Military airport (DNPM). The technical
logbook entry revealed that there was an engine run for 10 minutes and a test flight of
20 minutes in preparation for a positioning flight the next day.
On 28th August 2020 at 09:15 h, 5N-BQW was started and at 09:20 h, the helicopter
lifted off from DNPM as a ferry flight to EAN Aviation hangar, Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Lagos (DNMM). The flight was operated on a Visual Flight Rules
(VFR) flight plan. According to the flight plan, on board were one pilot, an engineer and
a fitter mechanic with fuel endurance of 3:15 h.
At 11:45:34 h, 5N-BQW established initial contact with Lagos Tower and passed its
traffic information as coming from Port Harcourt, maintaining 1000 feet, estimating
Lagos at 12:17 h, with three persons on board and one-hour endurance. Lagos Tower
acknowledged the call.
At 11:46:05 h, Tower requested 5N-BQW to report again its distance to the field (LAG
VOR). 5N-BQW replied 20 miles to the field. At 11:46:36 h, Tower requested 5N-BQW
to verify that it was 20 miles to Lagos, its point of departure and the altitude it was
maintaining. At 11:46:46 h, 5N-BQW replied that it was from Port Harcourt, maintaining
1000 ft, estimating Lagos at 12:18 h with three persons on board. At 11:46:54 h, Tower
requested for 5N-BQW’s endurance again. At 11:46:58 h, 5N-BQW replied one-hour
endurance.
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5N-BQW
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At 11:47:08 h, Tower issued an inbound clearance to 5N-BQW and requested 5N-BQW
to report estimate for control zone boundary. 5N-BQW replied estimate to the control
zone boundary 10 minutes and Tower acknowledged and confirmed the estimate for
11:57 h.
At 11:54:34 h, Tower requested 5N-BQW to report distance to the field. 5N-BQW
replied a….I am….I am…..I am five minutes to the field…to the control boundary I will
let you know when I will report to the field. Tower acknowledged and requested the
type of helicopter and landing apron. 5N-BQW replied okay I am going to EAN hangar
okay, and it’s a Bell, Bell 206 helicopter. At 11:55:01 h, Tower acknowledged.
At 12:01:36 h, Tower enquired from 5N-BQW if it had checked the control zone
boundary. 5N-BQW confirmed that it had checked control zone boundary.
At 12:04:27 h, 5N-BQW enquired from Tower whether it was raining overhead the
aerodrome and Tower replied negative rain.
At 12:10:59 h, 5N-BQW reported field in sight and Tower instructed her to report left
downwind runway 18 left (18L). 5N-BQW replied call you left downwind 18L, thank you
Bravo Whisky.
At 12:16:49 h, Tower raised 5N-BQW on radio as it was not on the left downwind
position of the landing circuit as was expected. Tower continued to raise 5N-BQW but
there was no response.
At 12:17 h, Tower informed Approach/Radar Control to look out for 5N-BQW on the
radar screens. Apron Control was also notified and was asked for the name of the
operator of the helicopter.
At 12:18 h, Tower contacted OAS, another helicopter operator located at Maryland to
know whether 5N-BQW had diverted to its helipad. No clear information was gotten.
Preliminary Report
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At 12:21 h, Tower contacted Caverton Helicopters and EAN Aviation to find out if either
of them was the operator of 5N-BQW and to know if they had any information that
might assist Tower to know of it’s whereabouts. Both companies reported that 5N-BQW
was not their helicopter. EAN representative later called to inform Tower that 5N-BQW
was expected to pick up passengers from their Hangar.
At 12:36 h, Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS) notified Tower of a
reported helicopter crash on a residential building at Opebi.
The accident occurred at 12:14 h in daylight in Visual Meteorological Conditions.
All the three occupants of the helicopter were fatally injured.
1.2 Injuries to persons
Injuries Crew Passengers Total in the
aircraft
Fatal 3 Nil 3
Serious Nil Nil Nil
Minor Nil Nil Nil
None Nil Nil Nil
Total 3 Nil 3
1.3 Damage to aircraft
The helicopter was destroyed.
1.4 Other damage
Part of the roof of a building, a fence and two cars.
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1.5 Personnel information
1.5.1 Pilot
Nationality: Nigerian
Age: 37 years
Licence type: Airline Transport Pilot Licence (H)
Licence validity: Valid till 24th June 2023
Aircraft ratings: Bell 206, Sikorsky S-76
Medical validity: Valid till 6
th August 2020
Proficiency Check: Valid till 24th August 2020,
Total flying time: 2,206:40 h
Total On type: 37.55 h
Total On type (PIC): 37.55 h
Last 90 days: 20 mins
Last 7 days: 20 mins
Last 24 hours: 20 mins
There was no evidence to show that applications for the exemption provided by the All
Operators’ Letters AOL DG018/20 and AOL DG020/20 respectively had been submitted
to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
1.5.2 Engineer
Nationality: Nigerian
Age: 66 years
Licence Type: Aircraft Maintenance Engineers’ Licence
Licence Validity: Valid till 14th February 2022
Aircraft Ratings: Category A&C Agusta/Bell 206, Bell 212, Sikorsky
S76, Eurocopter EC 155 helicopters
Preliminary Report
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1.6 Aircraft information
Type: Bell 206B III
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Textron, Canada
Year of manufacture: 1980
Serial number: 3216
Certificate of Airworthiness: Valid till 29
th October 2020
Certificate of Insurance: Valid till 8th October 20