@industry insider
As I said many posts ago, this was a simple autopilot issue which was mis interpreted by the crew. The fact that Bristow has sent all of its BHNL S-76 crews to the simulator for "additional training" alludes to the fact that "additional training" should prevent a recurrence in BHNL's view.
Dear industry insider, it might be too early to give any statement like this
"this was as simple autopilot issue which was misinterpreted by the crew". There is nothing what will support your theory, so far.
Instead, the opposite views, there are facts that support or consider them as potential events (NCAA's mandatory maintenance checks on due within 72 hours and Bristow's statement of additional simulator training).
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered all Airlines operating the SIKORSKY S76C series to carry out a safety inspection on this helicopter type with immediate effect.
As an interim safety measure, the under listed safety inspections affects all Sikorsky S76C series helicopters operating in Nigeria.
The action required are as follows:
1. Visual Inspection in accordance with relevant S76C AMM 20-32-00.
2. Detailed Inspection in accordance with relevant S76C AMM 66-00-00.
3. Detailed Inspection in accordance with relevant S76C AMM 66-10-00,66-20-00,66-30-00,66-40-00.
The NCAA's mandatory order to inspect all S76 series helicopter within 72 hours and every 300 hours will give a lead. The mandatory order's ATA numbers refers that the area of the accident investigators interest. Based on the ATA numbers the area of interest is the Flight Control System (
flight controls, rods, tubes, mixing unit, servo actuators, links, caution switches and etc).
Bristow Legal Director Tolu Olubajo's statement:
Bristow Helicopters said it had sent all its pilots on the Sikorsky S-76 series on simulator training in order to keep them abreast of latest developments. Bristow Legal Director, Tolu Olubajo …on training, we have sent all pilots on Sikorsky on simulator training on current handling of the aircraft, we are conducting test like hydraulic test, review all maintenance programmes, inspection and maintenance checks of cockpit, life jackets and so on,” he said.
Bristow's statement supports the facts that
the additional simulator flight training focus is the controllability issues and the hydraulic check (Stick Jump test).
These are the hard facts together with the published Preliminary report which also support the scenario that the loss of the controllability was the event why the helicopter was ditched.
I have received today from the local source an unofficial information that the both of (12th of August 2015 and the 3rd February, 2016) accidents helicopter's hydraulic fluid were contaminated. Let's wait until the official confirmation will be received.