Boeing 737-2L9 – 5N-BFN – Air Crash Data

Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 22 October 2005

Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-2L9

Owner/operator: Bellview Airlines

Registration Number: 5N-BFN

Location: Lisa Village, Ogun State – ÿ Nigeria

Phase of Flight: En route

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 117 / Occupants: 117

Component Affected: The airplane’s flight control systems, including the aircraft’s navigation and control systems, and the pilot’s operational capabilities.The airplane’s flight control systems, including the aircraft’s navigation and control systems, and the pilot’s operational capabilities.

Investigating Agency: AIB NigeriaAIB Nigeria

Category: Accident

On August 27, 2023, Bellview Airlines Flight 210, a Boeing 737-200, crashed near Lisa Village, Ogun State, Nigeria, resulting in the loss of all 117 passengers and crew. The flight departed Abidjan (ABJ), Ivory Coast, and was en route to Abuja (ABV), Nigeria, with stops in Accra (ACC) and Lagos (LOS). The pilot initiated a clearance request for start-up, and the controller granted it, including a temperature and humidity reading of 27øC and 1010 millibars. At 20:27, the pilot requested a left turn out, and the controller complied, clearing the flight with a route and right turn. Following this, the pilot reported wind conditions of 270 degrees at 7 knots. The controller cleared the flight for departure at 20:28, and the pilot acknowledged the clearance. The pilot then initiated a right turn out, reporting a turn-out, and the controller responded, confirming the turn. A minute later, the controller cleared the flight, stating ‘BLV 210 runway heading 3500ft left turn on course’. The pilot reported wind condition of 270 degrees at 7 knots, and the controller cleared the flight for departure.On August 27, 2023, Bellview Airlines Flight 210, a Boeing 737-200, crashed near Lisa Village, Ogun State, Nigeria, resulting in the loss of all 117 passengers and crew. The flight departed Abidjan (ABJ), Ivory Coast, and was en route to Abuja (ABV), Nigeria, with stops in Accra (ACC) and Lagos (LOS). The pilot initiated a clearance request for start-up, and the controller granted it, including a temperature and humidity reading of 27øC and 1010 millibars. At 20:27, the pilot requested a left turn out, and the controller complied, clearing the flight with a route and right turn. Following this, the pilot reported wind conditions of 270 degrees at 7 knots. The controller cleared the flight for departure at 20:28, and the pilot acknowledged the clearance. The pilot then initiated a right turn out, reporting a turn-out, and the controller responded, confirming the turn. A minute later, the controller cleared the flight, stating ‘BLV 210 runway heading 3500ft left turn on course’. The pilot reported wind condition of 270 degrees at 7 knots, and the controller cleared the flight for departure.

Description

Bellview Airlines flight 210, a Boeing 737-200, crashed near Lisa Village, Ogun State, Nigeria, following a loss of control, killing all 117 occupants. Bellview flight 210 was the return flight from Abidjan (ABJ), Ivory Coast to Abuja (ABV), Nigeria with en route stops at Accra (ACC), Ghana and Lagos (LOS), Nigeria. In preparation for the last leg of the flight, the pilot of Flight 210 contacted Lagos Tower at 20:17 and requested clearance for start-up. The controller gave him the temperature and QNH, which were 27 degrees Centigrade and 1010 millibars respectively. At 20:24, the pilot requested and got approval for taxi to runway 18L. The tower controller then issued the route clearance via Airway UR778, Flight Level 250, with a right turn-out on course. The pilot read back the clearance and the controller acknowledged and instructed the pilot to report when ready for takeoff. At 20:27, the pilot requested “can we have a left turn out please?” and soon afterwards his request was granted by the controller. One minute later the tower cleared flight 210 as follows: “BLV 210 runway heading 3500ft left turn on course” Which was read back by the pilot who also reported ready for takeoff. After reporting the wind condition as 270 degrees at 7 knots the controller cleared Flight 210 for departure at 20:28. The pilot acknowledged the clearance, and at 20:29 requested “And correction, Bellview 210, please we will take a right turn out. We just had a sweep around the weather and right turn out will be okay for us.” The controller responded “right turn after departure, right turn on course” and the pilot acknowledged. At 20:32 the pilot made initial contact with Approach Control and reported “Approach, Bellview 210 is with you on a right turn coming out of 1600 (feet)”. The Approach controller replied “report again passing one three zero.” The pilot acknowledged at 20:32 and that was the last known transmission from the flight. The airplane struck the ground on flat terrain in a relatively open and wooded area, 14NM north of the airport. The next morning the wreckage was found about 30 km (20 miles) north of Lagos. CAUSAL FACTOR: The AIB, after an extensive investigation, could not identify conclusive evidence to explain the cause of the accident involving Bellview Flight 210. The investigation considered several factors that could explain the accident. They include the PIC training of the Captain before taking Command on the B737 aircraft which was inadequate, the cumulative flight hours of the pilot in the days before the accident which was indicative of excessive workload that could lead to fatigue. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the airplane had technical defects. The airplane should not have been dispatched for either the accident flight or earlier flights. The absence of forensic evidence prevented the determination of the captains medical condition at the time of the accident. The missing flight recorders to reconstruct the flight also precluded the determination of his performance during the flight. Due to lack of evidence, the investigation could not determine the effect, if any, of the atmospheric disturbances on the airplane or the flight crews ability to maintain continued flight. The operator could not maintain the continuing airworthiness of its aircraft, in ensuring compliance of its flight and maintenance personnel with the regulatory requirements. The Civil Aviation Authoritys safety oversight of the operators procedures and operations was inadequate.

Primary Cause

Inadequate pilot training, cumulative flight hours, and technical defects, particularly the lack of forensic evidence, contributed to the accident. The pilot’s training was deemed insufficient, resulting in excessive workload, which could have led to fatigue. The pilot’s accumulated flight hours, indicating a high level of workload, increased the risk of fatigue. The airplane’s technical defects, potentially impacting its stability and control, played a crucial role. The absence of forensic evidence hindered the determination of the captain’s medical condition at the time of the accident, and the missing flight recorders prevented the analysis of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, hindering the investigation into the captain’s performance. The operator’s inadequate oversight of procedures and maintenance practices also contributed to the situation.Inadequate pilot training, cumulative flight hours, and technical defects, particularly the lack of forensic evidence, contributed to the accident. The pilot’s training was deemed insufficient, resulting in excessive workload, which could have led to fatigue. The pilot’s accumulated flight hours, indicating a high level of workload, increased the risk of fatigue. The airplane’s technical defects, potentially impacting its stability and control, played a crucial role. The absence of forensic evidence hindered the determination of the captain’s medical condition at the time of the accident, and the missing flight recorders prevented the analysis of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, hindering the investigation into the captain’s performance. The operator’s inadequate oversight of procedures and maintenance practices also contributed to the situation.

Share on: