Amidst the grief following the fatal Airbus Helicopter EC130B4 crash that killed former Access Bank’s CEO, Herbert Wigwe, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has disclosed insights from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), hinting at adverse weather conditions as a potential cause.
In a statement released by NSIB’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, initial findings paint a grim picture of catastrophic damage inflicted upon impact, with witnesses recounting a perilous journey amidst rain and a mix of snow.
The disturbing aftermath happenedin the high, mountainous terrain near Halloran Springs, California, where the wreckage lay scattered, offering grim testament to the tragedy.
The statement partly reads, “Analysis of the accident site revealed a scattered debris pattern about 300 ft along a 120° magnetic, indicating a trajectory from an initial impact point which was a 1.5 ft deep, 12 ft long and 10 ft wide ground crater, containing fragments of the right landing gear skid, cockpit wiring, and cabin floor structure. The right skid step protruded upward at a 45° angle at the extreme eastern edge of the ground crater.
“All major helicopter components were identified at the accident site. The helicopter’s fuselage was fragmented, and the cockpit and cabin were destroyed. Some debris and vegetation displayed thermal damage, indicative of the extent of the collision’s force. The flight control tubes and linkages leading up to the flight control servos were fragmented and continuity could not be verified. All three pitch control links were attached at the swashplate and blade pitch change horns.
“The main rotor blades were fragmented and broomstrawed, and the blade sleeves and tips were present. Data analysis utilised sources including automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, operator personnel reports, and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct the flight path and sequence of events leading to the accident.
“As the investigation progresses, the NSIB remains committed to engaging the NTSB to receive the public docket of the investigation, which will comprise the compendium of information gathered throughout the investigation. This typically includes photographs, interview summaries, documentation, and other relevant data that will give a clearer picture of the factors that led to the accident.”
