THE Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday released two final crash reports involving a Police Bell Helicopter, a trainer Tambico aircraft belonging to Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and a ground collision incident involving two Air Peace aircraft.
The bureau said the medical certificate of the pilot of the Police Bell 427 Helicopter had expired at the time of the accident.
The helicopter crashed at Kabong, Jos South Local Government in March 14, 2012, killing a deputy inspector general of police, the late John Haruna.
The NCAT Tampico TB9 aircraft occurred on October 6, 2008.
The ground collision of Air Peace two Boeing 737-500 and Boeing 737- 300 aircraft occurred at the domestic terminal of the Lagos Airport.
At a briefing at the headquarters of the bureau, it’s commissioner , Akin Olateru, said the simulation recurrence of the helicopter pilot had also expired at the time of the accident.
Olateru said the final accident report revealed that the co-pilot of the police helicopter was not type rated on the aircraft type (Bell 427).
He said the engineer that released the aircraft prior to the flight had no type rating and training on the aircraft type.
On the NCAT Tambico aircraft , the AIB boss said the student crashed the aircraft because of inability to maintain directional control after touchdown.
Olateru, however, raised concerns over the quality of fuel used in the Police Bell helicopter, urging the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) and the Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR) to launch an independent inquiry into aviation fuel quality in Nigeria.
The report reads : “The resulting report should focus on the vulnerability and risk of each step in the distribution process.
“This should yield firmer regulatory oversight mechanism that ensures international quality of aviation fuels used in Nigeria.”
The AIB , however, urged the Police to provide proper funding , conducive working environment , develop and implement a robust training programme for its technical and operational personnel.
Such arrangement, the AIB said, will ensure adequate supervision and approved equipment to enhance safety.
The bureau urged NCAA to ensure that the police air wing complies with approved maintenance requirements.
On the NCAT Tambico aircraft crash, the AIB urged the college to ensure that flying instructors checking on students on solo flight must at all times be at the control tower to monitor the progress of the flight.
The report reads: “NCAT should procure equipment and train relevant personnel to conduct toxicological examination in its aero medical facility .”
To avoid recurrence of the ground collision involving two Air Peace aircraft at the Lagos Airport, the AIB report urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN ) to establish a quasi-apron control tower at the domestic terminal .
“FAAN should provide all necessary personnel protective equipment and spares for marshallers and other relevant personnel.
“NCAA should ensure that proper regulatory oversight is carried out on operations at the general aviation terminal,” the report added.