The Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, Friday in Abuja released a preliminary report on the Embraer 120 aircraft that crashed on October 3, saying that the accident was likely caused by engine failure.
Muhtar Usman, commissioner of the AIB, who briefed newsmen, said that the report was based on the findings from the “Black Box,” recovered from the scene of the crash.
From its preliminary assessment of the Flight 361 recorders, the AIB said the likely causes of the crash include, mechanical and electronic engine control issues related to the right engine and the right engine propeller system as well as the take-off configuration issues with respect to flap settings.
He listed other likely causes as “aural warnings related to auto-feather and the flap settings, required for take-off and when and how the number two engine fire handle was pulled”.
Usman listed other likely causes to include crew decision making and training with respect to proceeding with the flight, in spite of concerns regarding the aircraft’s suitability for the flight.
“The investigation is also focusing on the standard operating procedure with respect to continuing the take-off roll, in spite of continuous automated voice warnings of both take-off flaps and auto feather when there was ample time to abort the take-off,” he said.
The commissioner further disclosed that the bureau was in the process of developing a comprehensive computer reconstruction of the aircraft to assist its investigation team understand the sequence of events that led to the crash.
This, he said, will enable the bureau to come up with a comprehensive report of what led to the crash and come up with safety recommendations.
He also said that the AIB plans to release the transcript of the Cockpit Voice Recorder, CVR, which contained the internal conversation of the two pilots, radio calls and the overall aural environment in the cockpit area microphone.
According to him, the CVR is of good quality and the bureau is in the process of generating a complete transcript of all relevant information.
“However, the actual recording is under international protocol, sensitive and therefore, privileged information and will not be released at any time,” he said.
The ill-fated aircraft, with registration number 5N-BJY operated by Associated Airlines, crashed at the Domestic Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos shortly after take-off.
The aircraft, which was on a private charter flight from Lagos to Akure, Ondo State, was carrying 20 persons, including the crew as well as the remains of the former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Agagu.