By Dickson Omobola
Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, has disclosed that Air Traffic Control, ATC, advised Enugu Air’s flight crew that the approach to Runway 23 at Benin Airport appeared better than Runway 05 before the aircraft overran the runway last month.
On July 23, an Enugu Air Flight 4264, with registration number 5N-ENR, from Lagos to Benin, the Edo State capital, suffered a runway excursion. However, all 63 passengers and five crew members on board were safely evacuated.
NSIB, in its preliminary report on the accident, said while the crew acknowledged the advisory, it continued with the Area Navigation, RNAV, approach to Runway 05, adding that the control tower also informed the crew that the runway surface was wet before issuing landing clearance.
The report said after overrunning the runway, the aircraft struck the approach-lighting installations and collided with two fixed concrete structures belonging to a decommissioned localiser installation beyond the runway end.
The impact caused the nose landing gear to break away first, followed by the right and left main landing gear assemblies.
Investigators also identified infrastructure deficiencies at the airport, stating that the weather information display equipment used by controllers at the Benin control tower was unserviceable at the time of the occurrence.
NSIB also said an uncompleted building obstructed the controller’s line of sight to the end of Runway 05, where the aircraft eventually overran.
NSIB, in its initial findings, stated: “Weather deteriorated during the aircraft’s arrival, with moderate rain and reduced visibility reported before landing. ATC advised the crew that the approach path to Runway 23 appeared better than the approach path to Runway 05; the crew acknowledged and continued the RNAV approach to Runway 05.
“ATC, while issuing the landing clearance, also advised the crew that the runway surface was wet. The ATC communication given during the landing clearance to the crew did not include Runway Condition Report/Runway Condition Code (RCR/RWYCC).
“During the approach briefing, the crew stated that the autobrake system was not working and that manual braking would be used for landing. FDR data recorded a tailwind component during the final approach and landing. The aircraft crossed the Runway 05 threshold at a recorded radio altitude of about 93.5 ft. The aircraft landed at about 1,641.5 m from the threshold of Runway 05.
“FDR information showed that increased brake pressure and ground-spoiler activation were recorded following touchdown. Post-occurrence examination of the wreckage found the thrust-reverser assemblies in a deployed condition. The aircraft struck the approach-lighting installations and impacted two fixed concrete structures of a decommissioned localiser installation, located beyond the runway end. The aircraft impacted the concrete structure, the landing-gear assemblies broke and separated from the aircraft. Field evidence indicated that the nose landing gear separated first, followed by the right main landing gear and then the left main landing gear. The weather information display equipment provided for operational use at Benin tower was unserviceable at the time of the occurrence.”
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