The Bahamas Department of Aviation has "done nothing" to create meaningful changes to the regulations governing the sector, according to a leading executive, with a recent crash report containing rehashed and stale recommendations tabled years ago.
Randy Butler, the CEO of SkyBahamas, told Guardian Business that an independent body must be brought in to analyze the findings and provide an objective view.
"The department hasn't taken any responsibility and done nothing," he said. "If you're talking about having appropriate regulation, that's a stroke of the pen. There is no political will to get anything done."
The comments follow a report recently leaked to the media, which was penned under the direction of Captain Patrick Rolle, the director of the Bahamas Aviation Department.
In the report, the Air Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit (AAIPU) detailed the circumstances surrounding a fatal accident in October 2010 that killed nine people in the waters of Lake Killarney, and highlighted the need for "tougher penalties for persons engaging in unauthorized air charters".
This recommendation, one of 15, is "not new", Butler explained, and the department is placing them in the report "as if they are new".
"Why would you give recommendations and not attempt to put them in place?" he asked.
Messages left for Rolle at the Department of Aviation were not returned by press time.
Butler told Guardian Business the majority of the recommendations in the report were first tabled after an audit in 2008/2009, whereby it was determined some 61 percent of the aviation sector was non-compliant.
A correction action plan was proposed, Butler explained.
Among the other recommendations in the report from the AAIPU include an evaluation of the surveillance programs to ensure that budget and personal resources are sufficient and a request to amend regulations to enforce that flight plans are required for all flights.
In addition to the recommendations being stale, Butler felt a report should be penned by an external agency.
The Bahamas is too small with similar interests at play to keep the issue strictly within the country, he said.
"You shouldn't have the people in this small industry and country do an accident investigation. There should be a separate investigation that is independent of them. The action must be transparent and everyone should be satisfied," he added.
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Lawsuit looms after plane crash report.
Furthermore, the report notes that according to eyewitness reports, from the initiation of takeoff power up to the point when the aircraft lost control white smoke was observed trailing behind the left engine of the aircraft.
"It cartwheeled, coming to rest upright, approximately 1/4 mile from the approach end of runway 27. The aircraft came to rest on an approximate heading of 210 degrees."
Lawsuit looms after plane crash report.
The families of the nine men killed in a plane crash in Lake Killarney over a year ago intend to sue the manufacturer of the aircraft and the engine, The Nassau Guardian has learned.
Shenicia Williams, wife of Clarence "Nat" Williams, one of the victims, said the group is planning to file a civil suit. She said the families have already hired a lawyer to handle the proceedings.
However, she declined to give further details, adding that her lawyer advised her not to.
The men were killed when the doomed Acklins Blue Charter crashed into the lake minutes after take-off from Lyden Pindling International Airport.
The twin engine Cessna was on the way to San Salvador for the Discovery Day weekend festival when it crashed on October 5, 2010.
Williams said the families of the victims were awaiting the report on the crash, which she said would help them put the ordeal behind them.
Minister with responsibility for Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, and officials from The Department of Civil Aviation have refused to officially release the report.
However, copies have leaked to the media.
Williams said she is relieved that is has finally been released.
"I think that all of the families, we've been seeking healing and I've known and realized that the only healing is through Christ. So we're just happy," she said.
REPORT'S FINDINGS
The report prepared by Delvin Major, an investigator at the Department of Civil Aviation, indicates that pilot Nelson Hanna would have had a better chance of landing the aircraft had he not attempted to turn the aircraft around.
"If, instead of attempting to return to the airport, the pilot had decided to force land into the lake more or less straight ahead, the outcome might have been different," the report said.
"There would still have been a crash risk and probably a rapid longitudinal deceleration, but the vertical speed at impact could have been low, the wings could have been leveled and this would have made the end of the flight far more survivable for all onboard."
According to the report, the left engine of C6-NLH suffered a mechanical failure of the number two cylinder, and therefore could not produce rated shaft horsepower.
"The electrical and engine control switches for the right engine of C6-NLH were found in the 'off' position; therefore the aircraft was incapable of climbing on the power of one engine alone," the report reveals.
The report adds that it is possible that the pilot never considered the forced landing option when the aircraft would no longer climb. What seems likely is that under extreme pressure, he maintained the only option that occurred to him - returning to the airport.
Furthermore, the report notes that according to eyewitness reports, from the initiation of takeoff power up to the point when the aircraft lost control white smoke was observed trailing behind the left engine of the aircraft.
"Eyewitnesses also reported that the takeoff appeared normal with gear retracted shortly after takeoff and the aircraft seemed to struggling to climb," the report says.
"The aircraft was seen at a low height, turning in a left direction over the lake as if trying to return for a landing at the airport. The bank of the aircraft changed from shallow to very steep to almost perpendicular to the ground, gears were extended and almost immediately the aircraft lost control and nose dived into the lake inverted.
"It cartwheeled, coming to rest upright, approximately 1/4 mile from the approach end of runway 27. The aircraft came to rest on an approximate heading of 210 degrees."
The report also indicated that the aircraft was over the maximum allowed weight for takeoff by more than 500 pounds.
The flight plan filed for this flight listed on person onboard; however, there were seven additional occupants including a second pilot.
The maximum weight allowed was 6,850. However, the total weight recovered was 7,373, according to the report.
"The excess weight above the maximum weight allowed for takeoff may have been an important factor in the aircraft's inability to gain adequate altitude after takeoff," according to the report.
In addition to Williams, 38; and Hanna, 43; Chet Johnson, 39; Corey Farquharson, 41; Junior Lubin, 23; Devon Storr, 27; Chanoine Mildor, 44; Lavard Curtis, 26; and Taylor, who was 28, all died in the crash.
NTSB Identification: ERA11WA008
14 CFR Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Accident occurred Tuesday, October 05, 2010 in Nassau, Bahamas
Aircraft: CESSNA 402, registration: C6NLH
Injuries: 9 Fatal.
On October 5, 2010, about 1236 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 402C, Bahamian registration C6-NLH, registered to and operated by Lebocruise Air Limited, crashed into Lake Killarney shortly after takeoff from the Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN), Nassau, Bahamas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the non-U.S., non-commercial flight from MYNN to the San Salvador Airport (MYSM), Cockburn Town, Bahamas. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the certificated commercial pilot, co-pilot, and 7 passengers were killed. The flight originated about 1233, from MYNN.
14 CFR Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Accident occurred Tuesday, October 05, 2010 in Nassau, Bahamas
Aircraft: CESSNA 402, registration: C6NLH
Injuries: 9 Fatal.
On October 5, 2010, about 1236 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 402C, Bahamian registration C6-NLH, registered to and operated by Lebocruise Air Limited, crashed into Lake Killarney shortly after takeoff from the Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN), Nassau, Bahamas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the non-U.S., non-commercial flight from MYNN to the San Salvador Airport (MYSM), Cockburn Town, Bahamas. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the certificated commercial pilot, co-pilot, and 7 passengers were killed. The flight originated about 1233, from MYNN.
The pilot was cleared to takeoff from runway 14, and according to the pilot of an airplane who was behind the accident airplane waiting to takeoff, white colored smoke was observed trailing the left engine during takeoff. The tower controller reportedly informed the accident pilot of the smoke and the accident pilot stated to the controller he needed to return to the airport and requested runway 27. While returning to the airport, a pilot-rated witness reported seeing the airplane in a “hard over” bank to the left followed by the airplane pitching nose down. The airplane crashed into the lake approximately 1,000 feet abeam the approach threshold of runway 32.
The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Bahamas. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:
Manager of Flight Standards Inspectorate, Bahamas
P.O. Box AP 59244
Nassau, N.P. Bahamas
Phone: (242) 377-3445/3448
Facsimile: (242) 377-6060
This report is for information purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained for the Bahamian Government.
The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Bahamas. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:
Manager of Flight Standards Inspectorate, Bahamas
P.O. Box AP 59244
Nassau, N.P. Bahamas
Phone: (242) 377-3445/3448
Facsimile: (242) 377-6060
This report is for information purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained for the Bahamian Government.
