The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) said that the Flints Aero Services Limited aircraft that crashed at Ibadan Airport, Oyo State on 3rd November, 2023. embarked on commercial passenger flight despite the fact that it was issued with a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority(NCAA).
The PNCF issued to the airline stipulates that the aircraft shall not be used for carriage of passenger(s), cargo or mail for hire or reward.
NSIB said this in a Preliminary Report s it made public yesterday on an accident involving Flints Aero Services Ltd aircraft and serious incident involving FLYFORVALUE Aviation Ltd.
On the accident involving HAWKER 800XP aircraft operated by Flints Aero Services Ltd. with nationality and registration marks 5N-AMM, occurred at Ibadan Airport, Oyo State on 3rd November, 2023.
According to the report, the flight departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA), Abuja for Ibadan Airport (DNIB), Oyo state, as a charter flight on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan. On board were 10 persons inclusive of two cockpit crew and one cabin crew, with fuel endurance of three hours.
The flight crew were licensed and qualified to conduct the flight and the Captain had 49 night flying hours only.
The aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and was programmed for an RNAV approach using the autopilot, which was cleared by the ATC.
The aircraft touched down in the grass verge on the extended centreline of the runway, about 220m from the threshold and veered progressively right of centreline runway 22 on entering the paved area until a point 156 meters from the runway threshold, crossed the right runway shoulder and entered the grass verge.
There was no evidence of braking action from the tyre tracks on the runway.
Post-incident inspection of the aircraft confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, the landing gear and flaps.
The passengers disembarked without any injury while the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were recovered in good condition and recordings were intact after the occurrence.
NSIB said that Flints Aero Services Limited was issued with a Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) and that the PNCF issued to Flint Aero Services Limited stipulates that the aircraft shall not be used for carriage of passenger(s), cargo or mail for hire or reward.
Meanwhile, to prevent a reoccurrence, NSB made four immediate Safety Recommendations. They are :
1. The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) should ensure that it strictly observes the airport operational hours as published in the relevant Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) and not permit extensions beyond the airport limitations.
2. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should ensure that Flints Aero Services Limited operates within the limits of the approval given to it, in accordance with Section 18.2.4.3 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations 2015.
3. Flints Aero Services Limited should ensure that its flight crew has sufficient experience in night-time flight operations.
4. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should ensure that the overgrown grass verge on either side of runway 04/22 is immediately cleared.
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