The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on the February 2024 helicopter crash that killed former Access Holdings CEO Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and three others.
The accident, which occurred on February 9, 2024, near the California-Nevada border, is attributed to the pilot's decision to proceed with the flight under visual flight rules (VFR) despite entering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), leading to spatial disorientation and a loss of control.
The report reveals that all six individuals on board, including Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, died in the crash.
Additionally, the NTSB highlighted lapses in safety oversight by the helicopter operator, citing inadequate risk assessments before flight, failure to properly log maintenance issues, and a failure to meet regulatory standards.
"The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while maneuvering the helicopter in IMC [instrument meteorological conditions], which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain," the NTSB stated.
Furthermore, the NTSB found that the operator failed to ensure proper documentation and flight risk analyses, which contributed to the tragedy.
According to NTSB, a company mechanic had attempted to fix a malfunctioning radar altimeter but was unable to do so, and the issue remained unresolved. Despite this, the flight proceeded.
"The mechanic reported that the pilot and the Director of Maintenance (DOM) were aware the radar altimeter was not functioning, yet they departed at 1822 on the positioning flight to pick up the passengers," the NTSB said.
"The investigation further found that after arriving to collect the charter passengers, the pilot and flight follower exchanged messages but "did not discuss the status of the radar altimeter or weather conditions," the board added.
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