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Tag: Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)

  • Federal Ministry of Aviation, NAMA, NNPCL confirm Helicopter Crash

    Federal Ministry of Aviation, NAMA, NNPCL confirm Helicopter Crash

    The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited have confirmed a helicopter crash that occurred today in South-South, Nigeria.

    The helicopter accident that occurred today at about 11:22 am along the waterways in Port Harcourt ditched into waters at Bonny Finima (Atlantic Ocean). The helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by Eastwind Aviation, engaged by NNPC Limited, was en-route from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the NUIMANTAN oil rig. There were 8 persons on board (6 passengers and 2 Crew members) with fuel endurance of 0215. Rescue operations so far have recovered 3 bodies.

    Search and Rescue coordination activities were activated in NAMA while details of the incident were escalated to the Honourable Minister of Aviation, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Bonny tower, Osubi tower and Escravos tower for further actions.

    Other emergency response teams were immediately activated, and search and rescue operations are ongoing with the support of the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, and other relevant agencies. Neighbouring aerodromes have also been notified for support.

    While no Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received, manual efforts to plot the location of the accident are underway, and all available resources and emergency services and organizations, including the military and low-flying aircraft, helicopters have been engaged and deployed to assist in locating and rescuing any floating objects or survivor(s). So far, three bodies have been recovered.

    Neigbouring aerodromes and adjacent airspaces have also been contacted.

    More details shall be provided as they unfold.

  • NSIB, NAMA, Seal Deal to Promote Air Safety

    NSIB, NAMA, Seal Deal to Promote Air Safety

    The safety of the Nigerian air space has received a boost as the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigerian airspace management agency (NAMA) in line with their inter agency collaboration agenda today in Abuja entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement and renewed partnership to promote air safety.

    The main purpose of the agreement was to consolidate the existing relationship between NSIB and NAMA on the exchange of information, and data sharing during occurrences, among others, that can help in the quality and timeliness of investigation of air mishaps in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO Annex 13 and 19 of the 1994 Chicago convention on International Civil Aviation.

    Also included in the MoU was the flexibility in all transactions with the mutual agreement of both agencies, upholding the values of cooperation, honesty, mutual respect, openness and professionalism.

    NSIB and NAMA while signing the deal noted that though the MoU is not legally binding, the two agencies however agreed to perform their respective functions in a manner consistent with the values and principles of the agreement.

     The signing of the agreement, which took place at the NSIB Abuja headquarters, had the Bureau Director General, Engr. Akin Olateru signed on behalf of NSIB, while NAMA Managing Director/ CEO, Engr. Odunowo Tayib Mohammed, put pen on paper for his Agency.

    The NSIB recently signed a MoU with Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on cooperation during emergencies even as the agency has signed similar agreements with various agencies and institutions within and outside the country.

    Said Olateru, “Collaboration remains the centre point of our drive towards enthroning safety in the aviation industry. We remain committed to promoting safety in the aviation industry to the point of attaining and maintaining zero accident.”

    He added: “We, however, cannot do it alone. That is why we have chosen the path of collaboration with agencies and institutions with similar objectives.”

    He commended NAMA management for rising to the occasion by signing the agreement.

  • NSIB frowns at Speculations, Comments trailing Jabiru Aircraft crash in Lagos

    NSIB frowns at Speculations, Comments trailing Jabiru Aircraft crash in Lagos

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has asked stakeholders and professionals in the country’s aviation industry to desist from speculations and making comments on the ill-fated Jabiru J430 aircraft, which occurred at Oba Akran area of Lagos on Tuesday.

    Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, the NSIB, in an interview with aviation journalists in Lagos, insisted that it was unprofessional to make categorical statements and comments on the cause of a serious incident or an accident when the investigators were yet to make their findings public.

    He was particularly peeved by some statements attributed to some of the professionals in the sector on the accident, which involved two pilots.

    He explained that as professionals, they ought to know the rules guiding accident reports and standards and recommended practices stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisations (ICAO).

    He explained that ICAO Annex 13 outlines the processes leading to the conduct of an accident investigation, stressing that it says that a preliminary report should be released within 30 days of the occurrence and a final report within 12 months of the occurrence following the completion of investigation.

    He assured that NSIB, as usual, would carry out a thorough investigation of the accident and release to the public workable recommendations to prevent recurrence.

    Oketunbi warned that such speculations may ridicule the country’s image in the comity of nations and appealed to commentators on the accident to wait for the outcome of its investigation before going to the public with their personal opinions.

    He said: “People should stop all these insinuations about the immediate or remote cause of the accident. Whosoever owns the aircraft involved in the crash doesn’t matter. This is an aviation industry, and we must not be seen to be commenting from the position of ignorance. Aviation is highly regulated, and we adhere to the standards and recommended practices of ICAO, which is the minimum.

    “Everyone should wait for NSIB to commence its investigation, come out with its preliminary and final reports, which we believe will prevent a recurrence. People should allow us to do our job. We cannot be influenced by emotions or speculations that are currently in the public space. As usual, we will be professional with our investigation and reports.”

    Oketunbi also urged the media to desist from publishing inaccurate reports on the crash.

    Recall that a Jabiru J430 light single-engine aircraft with the registration number: 5N CCQ had crashed at Oba Akran in the afternoon of Tuesday on its way to Ibadan for a test flight.

  • Kwara Boat Mishap: NSIB commences Investigation

    Kwara Boat Mishap: NSIB commences Investigation

    … releases preliminary report on Boeing 737-400 aircraft operated by Max Air Limited

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has commenced investigation into the unfortunate Boat mishap that happened in Kwara State. This was unveiled by the Director General/CEO, Engr Akin Olateru at a Press Conference held earlier today at the Corporate Headquarters, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    According to the DG, “NSIB has commenced investigation into the boat mishap that occurred at Kpada community in Pategi Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Monday night, 12 June 2023.”

    From reports gathered thus far, the boat was said to have conveyed not less than 250 passengers from a village called Egboti in Niger State. Information received also reveal that 106 fatalities have been recorded and the total of 144 passengers have been rescued so far.

    The NSIB is an autonomous multimodal investigation agency charged with the mandate to investigate air, rail, marine and other modes of transportation accidents and serious incidents in Nigeria with the aim of identifying the probable causes and proffer safety recommendations that can prevent reoccurrences.

    However, the purpose of accident investigation is not to apportion blame or liability but to prevent future recurrence of similar incidents.

    In order to carry out this mandate, the Bureau would be carrying out a lot of fact findings through crew and passenger interviews, working with relevant authorities to be able to determine the probable cause(s) of this accident. I will also like to use this medium to reach out to other local, state, federal agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to maintain effective cooperation and collaboration to ensure transportation safety.

    We are committed to swift response to accidents and serious incident occurrences through our well-equipped Command and Control Centre. Accident reporting has also been simplified through our Mobile Application, which was introduced to interface with the public and make it easy for them to communicate with NSIB digitally.

    The NSIB, hereby, solicit information from the public in form of pictures, video or recording evidences to help assist in conducting a comprehensive investigation. The Bureau can be reached through info@aib.gov.ng and NSIB on its social media platforms. The Bureau can also be reached on its emergency line +234-807-709-0909.

    The preliminary report on the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft operated by Max Air Limited with Nationality and registration marks 5N-MBD was also released. The incident occurred between take off at Yola Airport, Adamawa State and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja Nigeria on 7 May 2023.

    Some of the findings include-

    1. The flight crew were licensed and qualified to conduct the flight.
    2. The aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.
    3. At 12:10 h 5N-MBD departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA) for Yola (DNYO) as NGL1648 and arrived Yola at 13:25 h.
    4. The aircraft was on ground Yola for about 30 minutes before the turnaround for Abuja.
    5. According to the flight crew, after takeoff the landing gear was left extended for 3 minutes to allow cooling due high temperature on ground Yola.
    6. At 14:08 h, Nigerian Air Force personnel from the Air Force Hanger close to runway 35, reported to Yola Control Tower that an object appearing like a tyre fell off from the departing NGL1649. 
    7. Yola DATCO promptly informed the Pilot of NGL1649 as well as Kano Area Control (ACC) and Abuja Tower.
    8. The flight purser (L1) and another cabin crew (L2) informed the Pilot that a passenger at seat row 24 informed them about seeing a wheel fall off from the airplane.
    9. The Pilot mentioned that instruments and landing gear indications were normal.
    10. At 14:51 h Yola ATC informed Abuja Tower and NGL1649 that nothing was found after the runway inspection.
    11. According to the Pilot, the landing was normal but after the airplane started decelerating he noticed the port side wing was dropping lower than normal, he applied full aileron control to keep the wing from dropping until the lift decayed.
    12. Thrust reverser and minimal braking was used to stop the aircraft on the runway.
    13. At 14:57 h, Abuja ATC informed NGL1649 “be advised, it appears you have smoke around your aircraft. We have called fire watch room”, the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFF) and emergency services were alerted.
    14. The aircraft came to a stop between Link A5 and A6 about 2900 m from the threshold of runway 22. 
    15. The port wheel assembly was located by personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) about 1000 m from threshold of Runway 35 Yola airport on 08th May, 2023.
    16. The roller bearings on the wheel assembly of No. 1 main wheel had discoloration and was burnt out.
    17. The CVR recording was found to be overwritten.
    18. Max Air Limited stated that they were unaware of the NCAA All Operators Letter (AOL) (NCAA/FSG/AOL/19/03) in respect of continuous overwriting of Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) Information.
    19. There was wrong tech log entry of the serial number of the incident aircraft.
    20. The quality control department did not supervise the maintenance action of the brake unit and wheel change on 5N-MBD conducted on 5th May 2023.
    21. The crew did not take adequate measures to confirm the information about the missing wheel assembly.
    22. There was severe fire damage on the No. 2 main wheel assembly.
    23. After the replacement of the wheel brake on the 5th May 2023, an aircraft mechanic crosschecked the work performed by the engineer.
    24. The Yola ATC Voice Recording System (VRS) did not record any communication between the Pilot and the duty controller on the day of the occurrence.

    Immediate Safety Recommendations

    1. Max Air Limited Quality Assurance should ensure maintenance activities are supervised and monitored in accordance with Maintenance Control Manual.
    2. NCAA should;

    (a)Conduct regular safety management system (SMS) assessments to evaluate the capability of Max Air limited to effectively manage safety.

    (b)Ensure that the PMI and POI of Max Air Limited increase surveillance and oversight to ensure maintenance and flight operations are carried out in accordance with NCAA Technical Guidance Material (TGM) Volume IV (Airworthiness Inspector’s Handbook) Chapter 23 (Continuing Surveillance) and TGM Volume III Flight Operations Inspector’s Handbook Chapter 30 (Continuing Surveillance).

    • Max Air Limited should ensure that flight crew display good situational awareness and airmanship at all times during conduct of flight operations in accordance with Max Air ops manual.
    • NCAA should invoke the relevant sections of Nig.CARs 2015 in accordance with IS 1.3.3 Legal Enforcement Actions to non-compliant operators with the AOL (NCAA/FSG/AOL/19/03) on continuous overwriting of Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) Information.
    • NCAA should ensure FAAN/NAMA provide uninterrupted power supply in order to avoid vulnerability of their operational equipment.

    Further Investigations

    1. Inspection of the roller bearing and other accessories.
    2. Retrieval of pertinent document from Max Air limited and other stakeholder.
    3. Pertinent factors leading to drafting of the final report.
  • Transport Safety: NSIB seeks collaboration with NSCDC, plans MoU

    Transport Safety: NSIB seeks collaboration with NSCDC, plans MoU

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) is seeking partnership with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on how to ensure further safety in all modes of transportation across the country.

    The two bodies have also agreed to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on how their partnership could be concretised and ensure mutual benefits for all.

    According to a statement released by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, the Bureau paid a courtesy visit to the NSCDC Railway Command Headquarters in Lagos yesterday with the aim of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship between the two agencies.

    Engr. Akin Olateru, the Director-General, NSIB, who led the courtesy visit to the NSCDC Railway Command Headquarters at Ebute Metta, Lagos said that it was necessary for the two federal government agencies to synergise for the safety and security of the over 200 million Nigerians who either patronise air, road, rail or water transport, especially in the area of accident investigation.

    Olateru who described the NSCDC as an important stakeholder to the Bureau, said that as the first responder, the corps could help to secure crash sites and provide security for its investigators at crash sites.

    He explained that the new NSIB Act 2022, empowered the Bureau to conduct investigation into other modes of transport accidents, including rail and maritime, noting that with this, the causal cause of any accident would be known, while recurrence of similar accident could also be prevented.

    He maintained that no institution or organisation could go it alone without the collaboration of the others and appealed to the corps to work in harmony with the bureau.

    He explained that through the investigation of serious incidents and accidents in the air transportation industry in Nigeria by NSIB and the issuance of safety recommendations, the spate of accidents in the sector had reduced, while the air transport in Nigeria was also rated among the safest in the world.

    He vowed to replicate such in the other modes of transportation in Nigeria.

    He said: “Nigeria has one of the safest air transportation anywhere in the world. This is so because we enhance safety by investigation. There is no hearsay when we do our own investigation. So, we do thorough investigations and come up with safety recommendations.

    “Our proposal to investigate all modes of transportation was approved in 2018 and the draft bill was sent to the Ministry of Justice for vetting. After that, it was sent to the National Assembly and we went through the first and second reading, public hearing and then, the third reading. Then, Mr. President finally signed it.

    “In today’s world, when you look at the US, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, even Cape Verde and others, you must have an independent agency of government for investigating accidents so that there won’t be conflict of interest. There will be clarity. Up until this bill was passed, accident investigation in the rail sector was under the management of the railway. They are the regulator, operator and the investigator. Same thing applies in the maritime with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as the regulator and investigator.

    “So, you need to separate the regulator from the service provider and the investigator. There must be three legs to every mode of transportation. This will lead to clarity.”

    Besides, Olateru explained that the NSIB had co-opted the railway team to join its investigators on the investigation of the rail and bus accident, which occurred in Lagos on March 9, 2023.

    He explained that this would enable the investigators to unravel the causal cause of the accident and issue recommendations on prevention of recurrence.

    In his response, Commandant Oludare Ogunyoye, Commandant, NSCDC, Railway Command Headquarters, Lagos, expressed delight at the visit of the NSIB team.

    Ogunyoye reiterated the readiness of the corps to collaborate with NSIB and also offer assistance whenever necessary.

    “We of the NSCDC railway command, we are ready to partner with you in any form, provided it’s based basically on the way forward. That is, it is for the improvement of Nigeria as a whole. So, any form of assistance needed from us, we will give it to you. Immediately you call us, we will swing into action,” he said.

    The command has nine area commands spread across the country.

  • NSIB releases seven final reports, issues twenty safety recommendations to NCAA, FAAN, others

    NSIB releases seven final reports, issues twenty safety recommendations to NCAA, FAAN, others

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) formerly known as Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has released seven final reports of accidents and serious incident air mishaps that occurred within Nigerian airspace to the public.

    The Bureau also issued a total of twenty (20) safety recommendations addressed to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria( FAAN) the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the affected airlines, among others,  as safety measures to prevent future reoccurrence of similar incidents.

    Addressing newsmen during the presentation of the reports at the Bureau Headquarters, Safety House, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, NSIB Director General, Engr. Akin Olateru, disclosed that the newly released reports make a total of 82 aircraft accident reports released by the Bureau since its inception in 2007 while a total of 63 reports were released by the current leadership from 2017 till date.

    He said this year alone, seven accident reports and 30 safety recommendations have been released. Olateru added  that, the Bureau has also released a total of two hundred and seventy-two ( 272) safety recommendations since the inception of the Bureau of which a total of One hundred and ninety-one ( 191) of the recommendations were equally released by the current management.

    He also assured of NSIB commitment to the quality investigation of accidents and serious incidents through improving processes, human capacity and equipment, among others.

    “We remain committed through improving our processes, human capacity and equipment, to fulfil our mandate effectively, purposefully, and professionally”, he said.

    Occurrences reports released by the Bureau include the serious incident involving  Bristow helicopters Nigeria Ltd with Registration marks 5N BSN which occurred at Port Harcourt Military Airport (NAF BASE)  on the 9th March, 2020.

    The report of the serious incident involving ATR 72 with Registration Marks 5N- BPG owned and operated by Overland Airways Ltd which occurred at Ilorin Airport on 29th November, 2014.

    The serious incident involving B737-300 with Registration Marks 5N- BUO belonging to Air Peace Ltd, which occurred at FL 310 enroute Enugu from Lagos on 14th December 14th. 2018

     Also released was the report of a serious incident involving British Aerospace BAE 125 -8008 with  Registration Marks 5N- B00 operated by Gyro Aviation Ltd which occurred at Port Harcourt, Nigeria on 16th July 2020.

     The report of the serious incident involving a Dornier 328-100 with Registration Marks 5N- DOX operated by Dornier Aviation Nigeria-  AIEP (DANA) Ltd., which occurred at  port Harcourt Military Airport on 23rd  January 2019 was also released.

    Also released by the Bureau was the final report of the serious incident involving Airbus 330- 243 aircraft operated by Middle Airlines with Registration Marks OD- MEA and  parked Boeing 777 aircraft operated by Turkish Airlines with Registration Marks TC EJC, which occurred at Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria, on 29th July, 2020.

    The released reports also included serious incident involving British Aerospace BAE 125 800B aircraft with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N- BOO operated by Gyro Aviation Ltd., which occurred at Osubi Airstrip, Warri, Nigeria on 10th September 2020.

     The Bureau’s Director General in his final remarks said the details of the reports, which include the factual information, findings, analysis, conclusions and safety recommendations on the investigations are available for download on the Bureau ‘s website.

  • AIB-N Transits to NSIB

    AIB-N Transits to NSIB

    The Accident Investigation Bureau Nigeria (AIB-N) has commenced the process for the transition into a multimodal accident investigation body with the setting up an in-house committee for the implementation of the new act on the establishment of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

    The Commissioner of the Bureau, Engr. Akin Olateru, who made this known through Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, General Manager, Public Affairs, disclosed that the committee was set up following the assent of the new NSIB Act 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Supreme Court Gazette, which was released on November 28, 2022.

    “With this, the nomenclature of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in AIB-N has changed from Commissioner to Director-General, NSIB,” stated the statement signed by Oketunbi.

    The newly established NSIB is now responsible for the investigation of air, marine, rail and other modes of transportation serious incidents and accidents in Nigeria and anywhere the country’s interest is affected.

    Said Olateru: “The new Act will further enhance safety in all modes of transportation in the country as serious incidents and accidents would be investigated and recurrence prevented”.

    Olateru who lauded the Federal Government for establishing the multimodal agency said Nigeria would be moving with global trend in ensuring safety in all transportation modes.

    He praised the National Assembly for passing the bill and the President for assenting to it.

    Olateru commended the doggedness and leadership qualities of the Hon. Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and the Federal Ministry of Aviation for championing the creation of the NSIB, which he said would open a new chapter in transportation safety in Nigeria.

    While inaugurating the committee for the implementation of the new act that establishes the NSIB, Olateru commended the staff and management of AIB-N for their support and sacrifices to ensure that the bill saw the light of day.

    Said Olateru: “We did it together in the interest of the country. I salute your commitment, sacrifices and determination without which we would not have achieved this”.

    The expansion of AIB-N scope of operations into a multimodal agency was one of the cardinal programmes of Engr. Akin Olateru when he assumed office in 2017.

    With this in mind, the Bureau, under his leadership had vigorously canvassed for the establishment of the NSIB that would enable the Bureau to extend its mandate to cover not only the investigation of air mishaps but also that of other modes of transportation in accordance with global standard practices.

    The Commissioner, in 2020, at the public hearings of the Senate Committee on Aviation and the House Committee on Aviation for the passage of the NSIB bill, assured that, the NSIB would enable the Bureau to improve the safety standard of the country’s transportation network through quality investigation of the accident and serious incident occurrences, timely publication of the reports and safety recommendations.

    AIB-N, whose mandate was to investigate air mishaps in the country, with its rigorous investigations and timely release of reports and safety recommendations, has greatly enhanced safety within the industry.

    The Bureau, from inception, has released 71 reports and 252 safety recommendations, out of which 58 reports and 194 safety recommendations were released by Olateru’s administration.

    The current administration at AIB-N also released four safety Bulletins since its assumption of office in 2017.

    This feat is very much appreciated in air travel as only one fatal occurrence has been recorded in the last seven years.

    This safety standard achieved in the aviation industry would now be replicated in other modes of transportation in the country through the NSIB.

    The purpose of accident investigation is not to apportion blame or liability but to prevent the future recurrence of similar incidents.