The Accident Investigation Bureau has maintained that Quorum Aviation Limited – owner of the helicopter that crashed into a building at Opebi – did not send any letter to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for an extension of its pilot’s licence to fly the ill-fated Bell 206B III helicopter.
In a statement on Tuesday titled ‘AIB- We stand by our report’, the bureau declared that there was no evidence of submission of an application for the exemption provided by the NCAA’s All Operators’ Letter AOL DG020/20.
It added that there was no evidence of an application for the exemption provided by the AOL DG018/20 for proficiency check.
The AIB in its initial report released on Monday disclosed that there was no fuel left in the fuel tanks after the crash even after the helicopter was topped to full tank capacity on August 27 in Port Harcourt.
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It also said the pilot’s last medical examination was valid till August 6 while the proficiency check was valid till August 24.
Quorum Aviation, however, said a letter written by the Managing Director and Accountable Manager, Quorum Aviation Limited, Abiola Lawal, had requested for an extension.
According to Quorum Aviation, they sought to extend the pilot’s licence because of the challenges in organising additional crew travel training.
A Bell Helicopter 206-B III, Serial Number 3216, Engine Model Allison 250–C20B with the nationality registration marks 5N-BQW operated by Quorum Aviation had crashed into a building at Opebi, Ikeja Lagos State on August 28.
