June 15, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), has released 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, which occurred between take off at Yola Airport, Adamawa State, and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria, on May 7, 2023.
According to NSIB, the flight crew were licenced and qualified to conduct the flight and the aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.
Giving the report on Thursday, the Director General of the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Engr Akin Olateru, at the commencement of investigation into the Kwara State boat mishap, which occurred on June 15, 2023, at their Corporate Headquarters, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, stated that “at 12:10 h 5N-MBD departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA) for Yola (DNYO) as NGL1648 and arrived Yola at 13:25 h.”
NSIB further reported that the aircraft was on ground at Yola for about 30 minutes, before the turn around for Abuja.
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.
“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.
“Yola DATCO promptly informed the Pilot of NGL1649, as well as Kano Area Control (ACC) and Abuja Tower.
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.
“The Pilot mentioned that instruments and landing gear indications were normal.
“At 14:51 h Yola ATC informed Abuja Tower and NGL1649 that nothing was found after the runway inspection.
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”, the agency stated.
“Thrust reverser and minimal braking was used to stop the aircraft on the runway.
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.
“The aircraft came to a stop between Link A5 and A6 about 2900 m from the threshold of runway 22.
The port wheel assembly was located by personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) about 1000m from threshold of Runway 35 Yola airport on 08th May, 2023.
The roller bearings on the wheel assembly of No. 1 main wheel had discoloration and was burnt out.
The CVR recording was found to be overwritten.
Meanwhile, 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.
Other reports as given by the Bureau indicate that “there was wrong tech log entry of the serial number of the incident aircraft and that 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.
The crew did not take adequate measures to confirm the information about the missing wheel assembly.
There was severe fire damage on the No. 2 main wheel assembly.
After the replacement of the wheel brake on the May 5, 2023, an aircraft mechanic crosschecked the work performed by the engineer.
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 given by NSIB include: that Max Air Limited Quality Assurance should ensure maintenance activities are supervised and monitored in accordance with Maintenance Control Manual.
NCAA should conduct regular safety management system (SMS) assessments to evaluate the capability of Max Air limited to effectively manage safety; 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).
It directed Max Air Limited to 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.
It equally recommended that 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.
In addition, it also directed NCAA to ensure FAAN/NAMA provide uninterrupted power supply in order to avoid vulnerability of their operational equipment.
On the Kwara boat mishap, NSIB stated that 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.
According to the Bureau, information received also reveal that 106 fatalities have been recorded and the total of 144 passengers have been rescued so far.
In order to carry out this mandate, NSIB said that 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.
The NSIB, however, said it is soliciting information from the public in form of pictures, video or recording evidences to help assist in conducting a comprehensive investigation.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
