NSIB makes 4 safety demands in initial reports on Flint Aero, ValueJet mishaps

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has released two preliminary reports on an accident and a serious incident involving aircraft owned and operated by Flints Aero Services Limited and FLYFORVALUE Aviation Limited.

The accident involving HAWKER 800XP aircraft operated by Flints Aero Services with nationality and registration marks 5N-AMM, occurred at Ibadan Airport, Oyo State on 3rd November, 2023.

The flight departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA), Abuja for Ibadan Airport (DNIB), Oyo State, as a charter flight on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan.

On board were 10 persons, including two cockpit crew and one cabin crew, with fuel endurance of three hours.

A statement signed by Tunji Oketunbi, head, public affairs, said the flight crew were licensed and qualified to conduct the flight and the Captain had 49 night flying hours only.

It added that the aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and was programmed for an RNAV approach using the autopilot, which was cleared by the Air Traffic Controllers.

The aircraft touched down in the grass verge on the extended centreline of the runway, about 220m from the threshold and veered progressively right of centreline runway 22 on entering the paved area until a point 156 metres from the runway threshold, crossed the right runway shoulder and entered the grass verge. There was no evidence of braking action from the tyre tracks on the runway.

“Post-incident inspection of the aircraft confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, the landing gear and flaps. The passengers disembarked without any injury while the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were recovered in good condition and recordings were intact after the occurrence,” it said.

It stated that Flints Aero Services Limited was issued with a permit for non-commercial flight (PNCF), adding that the PNCF issued to Flint Aero Services Limited stipulates that the aircraft shall not be used for carriage of passenger, cargo or mail for hire or reward.

The NSIB, however, recommends that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) should ensure that it strictly observes the airport operational hours as published in the relevant Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) and not permit extensions beyond the airport limitations.

It asked the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to ensure that Flints Aero Services Limited operates within the limits of the approval given to it, in accordance with Section 18.2.4.3 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2015. 3.

It urged Flints Aero Services Limited to ensure that its flight crew have sufficient experience in night-time flight operations, adding that Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should ensure that the overgrown grass verge on either side of runway 04/22 is immediately cleared.

For the serious incident involving a Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BXR owned and operated by FLYFORVALUE Aviation Limited at Port Harcourt International Airport on 14th November 2023, the flight was a scheduled flight from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos (DNMM) to Port Harcourt Intl. Airport, Rivers State (DNPO) on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan.

On board were 68 persons inclusive of 5 crew; two cockpit, and three cabin crew with fuel endurance of 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The NSIB explained that while on ground in Lagos, the flight crew received weather information for Port Harcourt reporting Visibility at 1500 metres, reducing to 600 metres in thunderstorm and rain, adding that the decision was made to wait on ground in Lagos with passengers onboard until conditions became more suitable. At 14:15 h, FVJ0226 departed Lagos.

The initial findings of the flight indicated that the flight crew were licensed and qualified to conduct the flight and the aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.

The NSIB said preliminary reports are not the final reports as they only contain details of the initial facts, discussions and findings surrounding the occurrences; which include information gathered from witness statements, flight recorders, Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) Data, Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) data, and preliminary inspection of the accident sites and the wreckages.Therefore, investigations on these accidents are still ongoing and final reports will be released at the conclusions of the respective investigations.