The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has finally released the preliminary report for the on-going investigation into the serious incidents involving Delta Air Airbus A330-223 aircraft with registration N858NW. The incident occurred after take-off from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on February 13, 2018. In the same vein, the bureau also released the preliminary reports on another accident involving the Dana Air MD – 83 marked 5N-SRI. The aircraft on February 20, 2018 overran the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport. Still in the report is yet another Gulfstream G200 aircraft belonging to Nest Oil with registration number 5N-BTF, which on January 25, 2018 had an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
AIB led by Engineer Akiinola Olateru as Commissioner, said the reports contain factual information on the three occurrences and not their probable causes as investigations are still ongoing. They include information gathered from witness statements and a preliminary inspection of the aircraft and the accident site. On February 13, 2018 at about 2251hrs, a schedule flight DAL55, an Airbus A330-223 aircraft with registration N858NW belonging to Delta Air Lines Inc. departed Lagos, Nigeria, for Atlanta, United States of America with 221 passengers and 13 crew on board made an air return few minutes after take-off following a fire warning on one of the engines.
The aircraft landed at about 2259hrs and stopped on runway 18R. The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) reported observing fire on one of engines and extinguished it. Passengers were evacuated using the emergency slides on the right side of the aircraft. One passenger sustained serious injury while 11 suffered minor injuries. Initial Findings by AIB disclosed that the flight crew were certified and qualified to conduct the flight in accordance with applicable FAA regulations, Number One engine fire warning came on about a minute after take-off, while the crew at 2252.25hrs contacted ATC and declared emergency.
The report further added that the aircraft landed at about 2259hrs and stopped on runway 18R, where the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service first reported observing smoke, and fire on the Number One engine. AIB also reported that there was evidence of fire within the engine cowling even as the two fire extinguishers on the engine were discharged.
Meanwhile we gathered that investigation is still ongoing and further investigative actions may include engine examination, material testing for the fuel manifolds, engine oil and hydraulic lines, inspection of fuel manifolds for crack and inspection of fuel nozzle braze joints for leaks. The Dana Air MD-83, which took off from Abuja had an uneventful flight to Port Harcourt and was cleared to land by the Air Traffic Control.
The crew reported that the runway had experienced recent rain before arrival and after touch down looked and felt contaminated with flood of water that did not drain well. Other findings include the fact that after the aircraft came to a complete stop, emergency evacuation was carried out using only the left forward main door and the escape slide on this door did not deploy just as the Public Address System did not work. The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service arrived during the evacuation and all persons onboard were evacuated unhurt.
The third incident according to the report involves Gulfstream belonging to Nest Oil. According to AIB, it received notification at 1528hrs by Abuja Air Traffic Control (ATC) on Thursday January 25, 2018 of an accident involving a Gulfstream 200 (G200) with registration marking 5N-BTF, which took off from Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos at 1428hrs operating a chartered flight service to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport; Abuja (DNAA) with 4 passengers and 3 crew onboard.
The departure, cruise and approach to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport were uneventful. Subsequently, 5N-BTF was cleared to land on runway 22. The reported wind by the tower was 070°/07knots. At 1518hrs, the aircraft landed slightly left of the runway centre line, skidding left to right until eventually the aircraft finally swivel on the right shoulder of the runway where it came to a complete stop on a Magnetic Heading of 160o with the right main landing gear strut detached from its main attachment point. All persons on board disembarked unhurt. AIB’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi in a statement said the three reports have been uploaded on their website
