The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has suspended the operation of the Sikorsky S-76C++helicopter operated by Bristow Helicopters Limited in Nigeria, following the two crash incidents in just six months
At a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, February 4, the director general of NCAA, Captain Muhktar Usman said the authority views with utmost seriousness the successive mishaps of Bristow Helicopters’ operating aircraft Sikorsky S-76C++ on the coastal waters of Lagos.
“These decisions are without prejudice to the investigations being conducted by the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB). As a matter of fact, it will serve to assist in the entire process. The authority will fully support AIB in the investigation and the suspension will enable the NCAA carry out a full scale audit on its operations with particular emphasis on its Sikorsky S-76C++ type,” Usman said.
The Sikorsky S-76C++ is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter manufactured by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. The aircraft features twin turbo shaft engines, four bladed main and tail rotors and it has a retractable landing gear.
The helicopter was first built in the mid 1970’s with the design goal of providing a medium helicopter for corporate transportation and the oil drilling industry.
