Nigeria, US, others investigate helicopter crash

The Federal Government has said France and the United States of America are collaborating with the country to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the ill-fated helicopter that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean last month.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, during a press briefing alongside the Director General of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), stated that the US will join in the investigation to examine the wreckage of the ill-fated helicopter after the engine was subjected to a teardown exercise

He disclosed that the US, being the state of design and manufacturer of the helicopter, has appointed an investigator as the credited representative, assisted by a technical adviser nominated by Sikorsky Aircraft.

He stated that the preliminary report of the crash will be published on the NSIB website within 30 days, adding that it takes up to a year or more to develop the final report and possible safety recommendations.

Keyamo said that NSIB’s family assistance department, in collaboration with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC), will be working with the bereaved family members to bring them some comfort in this difficult time.

“Our objective is to conduct a thorough investigation using available techniques to find a safety issue and recommend a safety change to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.”

Keyamo stated that the search and recovery operation took 14 days.

“We have taken effort to also provide the flight recorder for you. It’s going straight to the lab, but we thought that you should also have a view of the flight recorder that was recovered,” he said.

He said the helicopter engines and related components will be thoroughly examined at “our wreckage facility. The participating states on this issue, the United States of America as a state of design and manufacturer, have appointed an NTSB investigator.

“So we are cooperating and collaborating with the United States, where it (the aircraft) was manufactured; meanwhile, France, as the state of design and manufacturer of the engines, has appointed an accredited representative to assist with technical advice.

“Now, all things being equal, we will publish the plenary report on the NSIB website within 30 days. Now, usually, it takes up to a year or more to develop the final report and possible safety recommendations.”

The Minister reassured that the search for the bodies of the three deceased victims will continue.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., said the findings of the investigation will be made public.

He noted that it was too early to presume the possible cause of the accident.