The complete report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the February 2024 helicopter disaster that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, Doreen, Chizi, and three other people has been made public.
Despite approaching instrument meteorological conditions, the pilot chose to fly under visual flight rules, which led to spatial disorientation and a loss of control in the February 9, 2024, disaster.
All six passengers, including former Nigerian Exchange Group chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo, perished in the incident.
The final conclusions of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been released about the February 9, 2024, helicopter disaster near the California-Nevada border that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, the former CEO of Access Holdings, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and three other people.
According to the report, the pilot’s choice to fly under visual flight rules (VFR) even after entering conditions that called for instrument navigation (IMC) was the primary cause of the crash. The pilot lost control of the aircraft as a result of spatial disorientation, and it eventually crashed into the ground.
Former Nigerian Exchange Group chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo was one of the six victims.
The helicopter operator was also chastised by the NTSB for inadequate pre-flight risk assessments, improper maintenance issue logs, and noncompliance with regulatory standards, among other bad safety practices. One significant issue was a malfunctioning radar altimeter, which was not fixed before the flight and was an essential tool for height awareness.
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The altimeter was still not working even after the helicopter’s mechanic had identified the problem and tried to fix it. Despite being aware of the issue, the pilot and the director of maintenance apparently continued with the trip.
In IMC [instrument meteorological conditions], the pilot most likely suffered from spatial disorientation, which caused him to lose control of the helicopter and crash into the ground, according to the NTSB.
A breakdown in communication and safety practice was further highlighted by the investigation, which found that the pilot and the flight following had not discussed the weather or the unresolved equipment issue prior to departure.
According to the mechanic, the pilot and the Director of Maintenance (DOM) knew the radar altimeter was broken, but they still left at 1822 to pick up the passengers, the NTSB stated.
The board added that the investigation also revealed that the pilot and flight follower exchanged messages after arriving to pick up the charter passengers, but “did not discuss the status of the radar altimeter or weather conditions.”
