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Dana: AIB orders airline, NCAA to review operations

By on June 5, 2014

The Accident Investigation Bureau has directed Dana Airlines to review its operations in three areas.

This was contained in the interim report of the Dana Airlines crash of June 3, 2012 that had led to the death of 159 persons.

The Bureau also asked the aviation industry regulator, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, to review its operations in one area.

The report was released on Tuesday, to mark the second anniversary of the unfortunate incident.

However, it did not specify the four safety recommendations the airline and NCAA were asked to carry out as a matter of urgency.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation regulations require air accident investigative bodies to direct airline or other stakeholders to implement safety regulations they may deem urgent while investigation is ongoing.

The report reads, “On the 3rd of June, 2012 about 1545 hours, 5N-RAM a Boeing MD 83 on domestic scheduled commercial flight operated by Dana Airlines as (Dana 0992), crashed into a densely populated area following a total loss of power in both engines while on approach to Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria. All of the 153 persons on board the airplane including the six crew members were fatally injured. There were six confirmed ground fatalities.

“In accordance with Annex 13 to the convention on International Civil Aviation Organisation and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Aircraft Accident Investigation Regulations 2006, this is an updated interim statement being issued for the 2nd anniversary of the accident. The purpose of this investigation is the prevention of aviation accidents and incidents; it is not to apportion blame or liability.

“Three interim safety recommendations were made to Dana Airlines and one to the regulatory authority respectively. These recommendations were accepted and have been implemented by the operator and the regulatory authority.”

The AIB report noted that investigators were still carrying out analysis on the engine teardown of the plane, particularly the fuel system in a bid to unravel the cause of the dual engine failure suffered by the ill-fated Boeing MD 83 plane.

The PUNCHhad exclusively reported, shortly after the incident, that investigators would narrow its investigation to the aircraft fuel system as a possible cause of the dual engine failure.

The report further reads, “Investigative reviews of the engine teardown especially the fuel systems are still ongoing. During this process, a similar incident occurred on another MD 83 aircraft of Dana Airlines on the 6th of October, 2013. AIB is currently investigating in-depth systematic and safety issues associated with this second incident vis-à-vis, the crashed sister ship, 5N-RAM. The safety actions adopted by the operator to redress the findings are being monitored and analysed.

“The draft final report is currently in progress in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 and will be released accordingly in due course.”

 

 

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