5 Reasons Why Wigwe’s Helicopter Crashed – U.S Transport Board

The helicopter crash on February 9, 2024, that killed Herbert Wigwe, his family, and others, has been investigated by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). 

The final report revealed several important reasons for the crash. These included poor decisions, equipment failure, and lapses in safety practices. 

Let’s look at the main reasons why the crash happened, as explained in the NTSB report. These findings show how important it is to follow safety rules and communicate properly, especially when flying.

5 Reasons Why Wigwe’s Helicopter CrashedPilot’s Decision to Continue Flying in Bad WeatherThe main cause of the crash was the pilot’s choice to keep flying despite worsening weather. The flight was initially under good conditions, but soon it became unsafe due to bad weather and low visibility.

Even though the pilot knew about the dangerous conditions, he continued to fly, which led to the crash.

Spatial DisorientationSpatial disorientation happens when a pilot cannot tell the right direction or position of the plane, especially when the weather is bad.

In this case, the pilot lost his sense of direction due to poor visibility and couldn’t control the helicopter, which led to the crash.

Safety Issues with the Helicopter CompanyThe helicopter company did not follow the proper safety rules, which contributed to the crash. The company failed to keep flight risk assessments up to date and did not properly handle maintenance issues. This made the flight unsafe.

Broken Radar AltimeterBefore the flight, the helicopter’s radar altimeter was broken. The pilot and the company’s maintenance director knew about this problem, but they still allowed the flight to go ahead.

The radar altimeter helps pilots know how high the helicopter is flying, and without it, the pilot was flying blind in bad weather.

No Communication About Weather and Equipment ProblemsDuring the flight, the pilot and the flight follower talked, but they did not discuss the bad weather or the broken radar altimeter.

This lack of communication about the serious issues meant that the pilot didn’t get the help or information needed to make the flight safer.