NCAA clarifies false report on helicopter crash investigation
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has addressed allegations regarding the airworthiness of the recently crashed helicopter, 5N-BQG, following a report by Sahara Reporters.
NCAA in a statement on Wednesday, signed by its Ag. Director-General, Captain Chris Najomo, clarified that the aircraft’s registration history and Manufacturer Serial Number differentiate it from a previously deregistered helicopter, 5N-BGN.
NCAA stressed that all records indicate proper registration and compliance, countering claims of misconduct surrounding the aircraft’s movement to Nigeria.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Authority has been brought to a report by the Sahara reporters on the airworthiness status of the recently crashed helicopter with registration marks 5N-BQG prior to the crash.
In their report, it was stated that the aircraft was initially registered in the year 2004 as 5N-BGN with Aero Contractors after which it was deregistered to Canada in the year 2009.
“The report then went on to state that the aircraft registration was cancelled in September 2018 after it was ‘presumably scrapped’. Their report was concluded with a question of how the Helicopter was moved to Nigeria and registered as 5N-BQG before the crash.”
Replying to the allegation the NCAA according to its records noted that, “It is important to state that aircraft can be tracked not only by their registration marks but also by their Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN). The 5N-BQG
S76C+Helicopter has its MSN as 760486 while the 5N-BGN S76C+ Helicopter has its MSN as 760468.
2.The S76C+ Helicopter with registration marks 5N-BGN and MSN:760468 was initially registered at the age of 7 Years on the 15th July, 2004 with Aero Contractors as the operator and Capital Aviation Services
B.V. as the registered owner. Aac
The S76C+ Helicopter with registration marks 5N-BQG and MSN:760486 was initially registered at the age of 14 Years on the 10th DEC.2012 with Nestoil Plc as the registered operator and owner.
“The registration was re-issued on the 13th July, 2021 as a result of change of operator to OMNI-BLU Aviation LTD. and Ownership change to DANBA Associates LIMITED. A further amendment of the registration was done on the 30th of May,2022 when the ownership changed to EASTWIND AVIATION LOGISTICS SERVICES LIMITED while maintaining OMNI-BLU as the
operator.
The final amendment to the registration was on the
27th of February,2024 when the operator of the S76C+ Helicopter
with registration marks 5N-BQG and MSN: 760486 was changed to EASTWIND AVIATION LOGISTICS SERVICES LIMITED. By this action, EASTWIND AVIATION LOGISTICS SERVICES LIMITED became the registered operator and owner of the helicopter.
“Based on the following data from our records, it is clear that Sahara Reporters could not clearly differentiate the records of the recently crashed EASTWIND AVIATION LOGISTICS SERVICES LIMITED S76C+Helicopter with registration mark 5N-BQG and MSN: 760486 and the AERO CONTRACTORS DE-REGISTERED $76C+ Helicopter with registration marks 5N-BGN and MSN: 760468.”
NCAA reiterated its dedication to maintaining aviation safety standards and ensuring accurate information is available to the public.
