The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified that, contrary to some accounts, the helicopter registered 5N-BQG that crashed in Port Harcourt last week was airworthy.
NCAA Director General Chris Najomo issued a statement refuting accusations from an internet news site claiming the chopper was scrapped in 2018, stating that this information is false.
The helicopter, operated by East Wind Aviation and chartered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), crashed on Thursday at 11:22 a.m. in the Rivers State capital’s waterways. It had left the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) and was heading to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.
So far, four of the eight people on board have been found dead.
Despite allegations from an online source claiming that the chopper was scrapped overseas in 2018, the NCAA director verified that was not the case.
He remarked, “The Authority’s attention has been drawn to a report by Sahara Reporters regarding the airworthiness status of the recently crashed helicopter with registration marks 5N-BQG prior to the incident.”
“According to their assessment, the aircraft was first registered as 5N-BGN with Aero Contractors in 2004, and was then deregistered to Canada in 2009.
“The report went on to say that the aircraft registration was terminated in September 2018 after it was ‘probably scrapped’. The study concluded by asking how the helicopter was transported to Nigeria and registered as 5N-BQG prior to the disaster.”
Clarification of the Facts
Najomo explained, “Based on our records, the following points are provided to correct the misinformation published by Sahara Reporters on the subject:
“It is important to note 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.
“The S76C+ helicopter with registration marks 5N-BGN and MSN: 760468 was initially registered on 15 July 2004 with Aero Contractors as the operator and Capital Aviation Services B.V. as the registered owner. The registration was re-issued on 13 December 2006 when the ownership changed to RBS Aerospace Limited.
“The S76C+ helicopter with registration marks 5N-BGN and MSN: 760468 was deregistered by Aero Contractors on 18 February 2009 to Transport Canada.
“The S76C+ helicopter with registration marks 5N-BQG and MSN: 760486 was initially registered at 14 years old on 10 December 2012 with Nestoil Plc as the registered operator and owner. The registration was re-issued on 13 July 2021 following a change of operator to OMNI-BLU Aviation Ltd. and a change of ownership to DANBA Associates Limited.
“A further amendment of the registration was done on 30 May 2022 when the ownership changed to East Wind Aviation Logistics Services Limited, with OMNI-BLU remaining as the operator.
“The final amendment to the registration was on 27 February 2024, when the operator of the S76C+ helicopter with registration marks 5N-BQG and MSN: 760486 was changed to East Wind Aviation Logistics Services Limited, making it the registered operator and owner of the helicopter.
“Based on these details from our records, it is evident that Sahara Reporters could not accurately differentiate between the records of the recently crashed East Wind Aviation Logistics Services Limited S76C+ helicopter with registration mark 5N-BQG and MSN: 760486 and the Aero Contractors deregistered S76C+ helicopter with registration marks 5N-BGN and MSN: 760468.”