Herbert Wigwe
The United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has said law enforcement and witnesses in vehicles saw the helicopter conveying Herbert Wigwe, the Chief executive officer of Access Holdings Plc, as a “fireball” before its eventually crashed on the 9 of February.
This was disclosed by the NTSB in the preliminary report it published on Saturday.
NewsBand reported that the bank chief died in a fatal helicopter crash with his wife, son, and a former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
The chopper, identified as Eurocopter EC 130, is said to be en route to Las Vegas when the unfortunate crash occurred near a border city between Nevada and California.
NTSB quoting witnesses reported that the weather on the fateful day of the helicopter crash was a mix of rain and snow.
It also stated that the automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) technology built in the helicopter that provides the position of an aircraft, recorded an increase in ground speed before the crash. Continue Reading…
“The accident flight departed Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) at 2045 under visual flight rules and flew a northwesterly heading for about 2 miles before following US Highway 111 to Interstate (I) 10 at altitudes varying between 2,500 – 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl),” the report read in part.
“The helicopter continued along I-10, crossed over San Bernadino International Airport, San Bernadino, California, and then followed I-215 to I-15.
“The helicopter followed I-15 toward the planned destination of Boulder City Municipal Airport (BVU), Boulder City, Nevada, climbed between 4,000 – 5,500 ft msl, then descended to about 3,500 ft msl near Barstow, California, where the ADS-B track data was lost about 2146, likely due to terrain interference.
“ADS-B data resumed at 2207 near the Halloran Springs/I-15 exit west of the accident location. The last ADS-B data points for the flight tracked east-southeast, gradually descended in altitude, and increased in ground speed (see Figures 1 and 2).
“The accident site was located 0.31 miles east-southeast of the last data point at an elevation of about 3,360 ft msl.
“According to law enforcement, several witnesses who were traveling in vehicles on I-15, called 911 to report observing a ‘fireball’ to the south.
“The witnesses reported the weather conditions in the area were “not good” and raining with a snow mix. The accident site was located by law enforcement at 2346.”
“wreckage was located in high mountainous desert and scrub brush covered terrain, and debris were scattered about 300 ft along a 120° magnetic heading from the initial impact point”.
“All major helicopter components were identified at the accident site. The fuselage was fragmented, and the cockpit and cabin were destroyed. Some debris and vegetation displayed thermal damage.
“The flight control tubes and linkages leading up to the flight control servos
were fragmented and continuity could not be verified. Continue Reading…
“All three pitch control links were attached at the swashplate and blade pitch change horns. The main rotor blades were fragmented and broomstrawed, and the blade sleeves and tips were present,” the report indicated.
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