LOS ANGELES, CA — The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a final report on the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, former group CEO of Access Holdings Plc, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and other passengers. This tragic incident occurred on February 9, 2024, near the California–Nevada border, resulting in the deaths of all six onboard the helicopter registered N130CZ.
The NTSB’s investigation attributes the primary cause of the crash to the pilot’s decision to continue flying under visual flight rules (VFR) despite encountering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). According to the report, this critical decision led to the pilot’s spatial disorientation and ultimate loss of control of the aircraft.
“The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while maneuvering the helicopter in IMC, which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain,” the report stated.
The NTSB emphasized significant deficiencies in the helicopter company’s oversight and safety management processes. Investigators found that the company failed to enforce essential safety protocols, including ensuring that pilots completed and updated flight risk analyses and logged maintenance discrepancies before flights.
Additional details revealed that the helicopter’s radar altimeter was non-functional before the flight. The pilot had previously communicated with the Director of Maintenance (DOM) regarding this critical issue. Nonetheless, the pilot and company personnel decided to proceed with the flight.
“A company mechanic performed some troubleshooting on the radar altimeter; however, he was unable to rectify the issue,” the report shared. “The mechanic reported that both the pilot and the DOM were aware that the radar altimeter was not working, yet they departed on the positioning flight to pick up passengers.”
The investigation highlights that after landing to pick up the charter passengers, the pilot and a company flight follower had a phone discussion but did not address the status of the radar altimeter or weather conditions that could have compromised safety during the operation.
The NTSB concluded that the probable cause of this accident was the pilot’s decision to continue the flight in unfavorable conditions, resulting in fatal spatial disorientation and loss of control.
The report also pointed out the company’s inadequate oversight of safety management processes as a contributing factor to this tragedy, including a failure to adhere to federal regulations (Part 135) before departure.
This tragic accident has raised concerns about aviation safety management and the need for stricter compliance with regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
