Osinbajo crash : Aviation experts commend helicopter pilot

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

Following the release of preliminary report by Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, on the cause of the Caverton helicopter crash, involving the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at Kabba , Kogi State, aviation experts have commended the pilot in command of the chopper.

According to them, the calmness with which the pilot handledthe lack of visibility at the landing point saved what would have been anational disaster. A pilot with default Nigeria Airways , who preferred not tobe named, said some inexperienced pilots would  have panicked because ofthe calibre of passenger aboard and would not have been ” able to follow thenecessary emergency procedures. This requires cool headedness and calmness todeclare “May Day” . A backed up Police helicopter immediately followed thecaverton helicopter following the pilots May Day call. An aeronauticalengineer, Lanre John while reacting to the incident said helicopters aredesigned to land anywhere. Brownouts can happen anywhere. It is the reaction ofthe chopper pilot that matters. ” That the two Caverton pilots were able to doimmediate engines shutdown, fuel shut OFF, battery switch OFF, and generatorsswitch OFF   and gently brought down the helicopter deservedcommendation “. Recall the AIB preliminary report on the crash on Wednesdaysaid : “During cruise at 5,000 ft and at about 10 minutes to touchdown, thecrew noticed the flight recorder light on the Crew Alerting System (CAS) comeON. Quick Reference Handbook items were accomplished.  Another helicopteroperated by Nigeria Police Force (Bell 412; 5N-PEJ) landed ahead of NGR002. Thecrew briefed on landing in brownout and used the Company’s Brownout LandingProcedures.” “During the landing, at about 50 ft to touchdown, a heavy brownoutenveloped the helicopter and the crew lost visual contact with theground.  The Co-Pilot called out radio altimeter 35, 30, 25, 20, 15 and nomore.  At about 14:34 h, the helicopter touched down hard on the rightmain landing gear and rolled over to the right. The crew carried out EmergencyLanding Procedures which included immediate engines shutdown, fuel shut OFF,battery switch OFF, and generators switch OFF.  All occupants of thehelicopter were evacuated uninjured. However, the helicopter was substantiallydamaged”, the report added.