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  • AIB releases reports on four aircraft serious incidents, accidents

 

The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB-N) has released four preliminary reports on serious incidents and accidents involving aircraft owned and operated by United Nigeria Airlines Limited, Max Air, Air Peace, and the Nigerian Police Air Wing.

According to the preliminary report, involving the United Nigeria Airlines Embraer 145LR aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-BWW occurred when the airplane was climbing out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria when a serious incident occurred at about 4,000 feet on November 17th, 2021.

The aircraft was scheduled to operate six sectors for that day. The first sector was Lagos to Abuja which was uneventful.

A fleet of aircraft belonging to United Nigeria Airlines

At about 08:30 h, NUA0505 requested startup clearance for the second sector of the day, from Abuja Ground Control (AGC). AGC granted approval for NUA0505 to start, with squawk code of 0417. At 08:33 h, NUA0505 requested taxi clearance, tower acknowledged and cleared the aircraft for a taxi to holding point runway 22. NUA0505 commenced taxi and reported to Abuja Ground Control (AGC). AGC transferred NUA0505 to Abuja Tower.

At about 08:37 h, NUA0505 reported ready for take-off. The tower instructed NUA0505 to line up and wait for runway 22 and to prepare immediately. At about 08:39 h, the tower cleared NUA0505 for take-off runway 22 and to maintain runway heading after departure. An EICAS Advisory Message “E1 OIL IMP BYP” came ON while the aircraft was lining up for take-off.

At about 08:40 h, NUA0505 advanced the throttle and set takeoff thrust. NUA0505 commenced the take-off roll. After take-off, Tower transferred NUA0505 to radar on frequency 127.9. NUA0505 acknowledged and complied.

Thereafter, Radar instructed NUA0505 to turn right direct VONUK and climb and maintain FL280. NUA0505 acknowledged.

According to the flight crew, “during the climb, there was a loud bang from the rear, and all engine parameters were checked and all in green. At about 4,000 ft, we heard another noise followed by a flameout.”

Max Air’s B737 airplane

The crew further stated that they identified it was an engine flameout

 Max Air was involved in an on-ground collision with Skyway Aviation Handling Co. Plc (SAHCO) lavatory service truck with fleet number 9/5 on 21st November 2021, the preliminary report stated that the pilot while preparing for the next sector (Abuja to Maiduguri), heard a loud bang accompanied with shaking of the aircraft. Boarding was stopped and passengers who were already on board were disembarked to await further instructions.

According to the AIB report, on November 21, 2021, at about 15:35 h, a lavatory service truck with fleet number 9/5 operated by Skyway Aviation Handling Co. PLC (SAHCO), had a ground collision with a parked Boeing 737-300 aircraft with nationality and registration marks 5N-DAB, operated by Max Air Limited; at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja (DNAA).

The aircraft was scheduled to operate eight sectors for the day. After the third sector, 5NDAB was parked at stand D8. While Boarding for the fourth sector (Abuja to Maiduguri), the Pilot requested ground service (lavatory service) for the aircraft. According to the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) driver, he was providing conveyor belt service to another aircraft when he was called upon to service the Max Air aircraft.

 

Air Peace’s Embraer 195-E2

Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria (AIB) was notified of the serious incident involving Boeing 737-300 aircraft owned and operated by Air Peace Limited with nationality and registration marks 5N-BUQ, which occurred after take-off from Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Nigeria en route Lagos on November 22, 2021.

After take-off during Climb Out, the crew heard multiple loud bangs accompanied by vibrations and also noticed the values of engine parameters for No 1 Engine N1 and N2 reducing rapidly with an excessive rise in Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) above limits.

 The flight crew according to AIB executed the Engine fire or engine severe damage separation checklist and shut down engine No1 in accordance with the QRH (quick reference handbook)

 A Bell 429 helicopter owned and operated by Nigeria Police Air Wing with nationality and registration marks 5N-MDA, was involved in an incident at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Airport, Bauchi, Nigeria on January 26tth, 2022.

During the final approach to land at the third attempt, the Pilot Monitoring (PM) suddenly saw a tree on its flight path which was neither detected by the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) nor the Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS).

The crew verified that both systems were certified functional prior to the flight, also the Aural Warning (AW) did not sound and the visual display didn’t indicate that the aircraft was approaching an obstacle.

A spokesman for AIB, Tunji Oketunbi said investigations on the serious incidents and accidents were still ongoing, adding that final reports would be released at the conclusions of the respective investigations.

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