The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, says there was no fuel in the ill fated Quorum helicopter that crashed in Opebi, Lagos on the 28th August, 2020.
In its preliminary report released today by the AIB reports showed that at the time the helicopter crashed, there was no fuel left in the helicopter and this is just as the chopper do not have the capacity to jettison fuel.
The report also says that the fuel tanks was topped to full tank capacity on 27th August, 2020 in Port Harcourt.
“The helicopter was topped to full tank capacity on 27th August, 2020. After refueling, 10 minutes of engine run and 20 minutes of test flight were carried out on 27th August, 2020 at Port Harcourt.”
The report read, “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 report also showed that, the helicopter had an endurance of 3:24 hours, adding that the operational flight plan filed by the pilot indicated an endurance of 3:15h and an estimated flight time of 2:45 hours.
According to the AIB report, 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.
“The helicopter engine was started at 09:15h. The helicopter took off at 09:20h.The helicopter crashed at 12:14h.There was no fuel left in the fuel tanks after the crash. The mast and main rotor blades were found intact during the post crash inspection.”
The crew, the AIB report also revealed that the Pilot’s last medical examination was valid till 6th August, 2020 and 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.
“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.”
The AIB says the helicopter had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness as The Aircraft Maintenance Engineers’ License Validity was till 14th February, 2022 and Aircraft Ratings: Category A&C Agusta/Bell 206, Bell 212, Sikorsky S76, Eurocopter EC 155 helicopters while the Certificate of Airworthiness of the helicopter was Valid till 29th October 2020.
The Quorum Helicopter crashed into the roof of a building and a wall fence impacting two vehicles parked in the compound at Salvation Street Opebi, Ikeja Lagos on the 28th August, 2020.
