AIB releases three accident reports, wants Azman to implement flight data programme, others

  • 20 safety recommendations to NCAA, FAAN, NAMA
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday released three reports of serious incidents and accidents involving Max Air’s B747 with registration 5N-DBK which occurred on September 6th, 2019; Azman Air’s B737-500 with registration, 5N-AIS and Nigerian Police Airwing, Cessna Citation 560 XLS aircraft as well as Azman Air Service Limited,

As part of its safety recommendations, the AIB stated that  Azman Air Services Limited should implement fully, the Flight Data Monitoring programme as stipulated in 2.2.5 of the Azman Air Safety Management System Manual, including holding regular FDM meetings, timely corrective actions on the anomalies identified in FDM reports, distribution to all concerned personnel for timely corrective actions, entering the anomalies into the safety risk management process
and presentation during the senior management review, if relevant.

 

AIB-N former Lagos office

Included in the reports are 20 safety recommendations which were addressed to the regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the affected airlines, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, among others.

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The newly released reports make a total of 75 aircraft accident reports released by the Bureau since its establishment in 2007 and a total of 56 reports released by the current administration from 2017 to date.

On the Azman Air flight which got seven safety recommendations, and one immediate recommendation directed to the NCAA, the AIB revealed that the casual factor as a result of the failure of number 4 and 5 bearings of engine number 2 leading to loss of power during the approach of the aircraft.

Contributory factors according to the AIB included: failure to recognise the abnormal engine conditions (surge) during the cruise phase and hence, not making the appropriate decisions. This might have been connected to the insufficient technical knowledge and loss of situational awareness.

Others are non-implementation of the Flight Data Monitoring programme in accordance with 2.2.5.1 of the Azman Air Safety Management System Manual, non-rectification of the number two engine vibration anomalies recorded over a period of 8 months, and inadequate regulatory oversight of the Azman Air Safety Management System.

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It said no action had been taken on the Immediate Safety Recommendations.

On the Max Air Incident, seven safety recommendations were proffered as the AIB explained that the aircraft with registration marks 5N-DBK, Flight NGL2092 departed King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, (OEJN) with returning Hajj pilgrims bound for Minna Airport, Nigeria, (DNMN).

The aircraft touched down on the right of the centre line of RWY 05 with the left main wheels first and the number one engine nacelle impacted the runway and was dragged along the runway centre line.

AIB identified excessive rudder and aileron inputs at the short finals phase of the approach as causal factors while deciding to continue the ILS approach runway 05 with erratic localizer signals and an un-stabilized approach with a no go-around decision as contributory factors.

On the Cessna Citation 560, XLS+ aircraft with registration marks 5N-HAR operated by the Nigeria Police (NP) five (5) safety recommendations were prescribed.

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The causal factor for the crash which had six passengers on board was an uncoordinated flight as a result of inadequate Crew Resource Management (CRM) that led to the partial release of the parking brake, which resulted in rejected take-off while the contributory factors were the inability of the aircraft to get airborne after attaining the rotation speed (Vr) during take-off roll even with aft elevator pressure.

The other was non-adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as contained in the Cessna Citation 560 XLS+ Airplane Flight Manual.

With the release of these final reports are 20 Safety Recommendations, addressed to the regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the affected airlines, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, among others.

Wole Shadare