Probe Uncovers Tragic Reason Behind Herbert Wigwe's Helicopter Crash: NTSB Report
Helicopter of Herbert Wigwe Plunges Due to NTSB-Uncovered Cause
This past year, we bore witness to a heart-wrenching event when the helicopter carrying former Access Holdings Plc CEO, Herbert Wigwe, and his family plummeted down in California near the Nevada border. The crash claimed the lives of Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group).
In the final report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), it appears that the crash occurred due to human error and inadequate safety procedures.
On February 9, 2024, the Murphy's Law came into effect as the pilot made a fateful decision to push through visual flight rules (VFR) despite confronting instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). In other words, he chose to fly in poor visibility rather than following the recommended practices.
As one might expect, this decision put the pilot in a tricky predicament, leading to spatial disorientation and ultimately, loss of control. Events quickly spiraled out of control, culminating in a deadly collision with the rough terrain below.
However, the tragedy does not end there. It was also revealed that the helicopter company was lax in their safety management, with critical lapses in following the mandated regulations before each departure.
Here's a quick rundown of the safety measures they should have been adhering to:- Accurate and up-to-date flight risk analyses- Logging of maintenance discrepancies- Ensuring the helicopter met Part 135 regulations before taking off
But that's not all. To exacerbate their transgressions, text messages between the pilot and the director of maintenance (DOM) about a malfunctioning radar altimeter during the return flight pointed towards a flagrant disregard for safety protocols.
The NTSB report sheds light on these unsettling factors, stating, "The NTSB determines the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot's spatial disorientation and loss of control.
"Contributing to the accident was the company's inadequate oversight of its safety management processes, including ensuring the pilots were accurately completing and updating the flight risk analysis, logging maintenance discrepancies, and ensuring the helicopter met Part 135 regulations before departure."
In the world of aviation safety, it's crucial to understand that the FAA is responsible for setting the guidelines for VFR and IMC operations. But such investigations into unfortunate incidents rely on the efforts of the NTSB to identify flaws and issue recommendations for improvements. The NTSB investigation into this heart-wrenching accident provides valuable insights that help us reflect on and enhance safety protocols in the air transportation industry.
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[1] "FAA Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) 25001" (https://www.faa.org/airports/air_traffic/bulletins_notices/media/safo25001.pdf)[3] "FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 90-66B" (https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_docs/AC/"90-66B.pdf)[5] "FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 60-13A - Aviation Weather" (https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_docs/AC/"60-13A.pdf)
- The tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe and others occurred due to a combination of human error and inadequate safety procedures, as highlighted in the NTSB report.
- The NTSB report sheds light on the pilot's decision to fly in poor visibility, despite confronting instrument meteorological conditions, which led to spatial disorientation and loss of control.
- The helicopter company involved in the accident was found to have lax safety management, with critical lapses in following mandated regulations before each departure, such as accurate and up-to-date flight risk analyses, logging of maintenance discrepancies, and ensuring the helicopter met Part 135 regulations before taking off.
- Text messages between the pilot and the director of maintenance (DOM) about a malfunctioning radar altimeter during the return flight suggest a disregard for safety protocols.
- The NTSB report concludes that the pilot's decision to continue visual flight rules (VFR) flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) was the probable cause of the accident.
- The NTSB also points out that the company's inadequate oversight of safety management processes, including ensuring pilots accurately completed and updated the flight risk analysis, logging maintenance discrepancies, and adhering to Part 135 regulations, contributed to the accident.
- Although the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for setting the guidelines for VFR and IMC operations, the NTSB's investigations into incidents like these are crucial in identifying flaws and issuing recommendations for improvements in the air transportation industry.
