This is the final report from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the February 2024 helicopter disaster that killed Herbert Wigwe, Doreen, Chizi, and three other people.
The pilot lost control and experienced spatial disorientation on February 9, 2024, when he chose to fly under visual flight rules even while instrument meteorological conditions were in effect.
All six passengers perished in the collision, including former Nigerian Exchange Group chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States has released its final conclusions about the February 9, 2024, helicopter disaster near the California-Nevada border that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, the former CEO of Access Holdings, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and three other people.
Despite encountering conditions that necessitated instrument navigation (IMC), the pilot chose to continue flying under visual flight rules (VFR), which the study indicated was the primary cause of the incident. The pilot eventually lost control of the aircraft due to spatial disorientation, forcing it to crash into the ground.
The former head of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, was one of the six victims.
Additionally, the NTSB chastised the helicopter operator for inadequate pre-flight risk assessments, improper maintenance issue logs, and noncompliance with regulatory standards, among other bad safety practices. A malfunctioning radar altimeter, which is essential for height awareness, was one of the major issues that had not been fixed before the flight.
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The altimeter remained inoperable despite the fact that the helicopter’s mechanic had identified the problem and tried to fix it. According to reports, the pilot and the director of maintenance knew about the issue but continued the flight.
“While operating the helicopter in IMC [instrument meteorological conditions], the pilot probably suffered from spatial disorientation, which caused him to lose control of the helicopter and crash into the ground,” the NTSB stated.
The examination also showed that there was no recorded conversation between the pilot and the flight following prior to departure regarding the weather or the unresolved equipment problem, highlighting a breakdown in safety protocol and communication.
The NTSB stated that the mechanic stated that the pilot and the Director of Maintenance (DOM) knew the radar altimeter was not working, yet they nonetheless left at 1822 to pick up the passengers.
“The examination also revealed that the pilot and flight following exchanged communications after arriving to pick up the charter passengers, but “did not disclose the state of the radar altimeter or weather circumstances,” the board added.
