Fire destroyed Dana plane’s black box

An investigator with the Accident Investigation Bureau, Mr. Emmanuel Dialla, gave an insight into how post-crash fire in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos State, rendered the Flight Data Recorder – one of the two black boxes – of the Dana Air’s plane useless. The data recoverable from the Black box normally assist an investigator of an air accident to identify the cause of crash. But the AIB, the statutory body empowered to investigate air accidents, has said the FDR inside the Black box of the Dana plane melted despite its fire-resistant casing. Dialla, who is the Director of Engineering, explained why this happened during the proceedings of a Coroner’s inquest into the death of the 153 persons on the plane and those on the ground. The inquest which is taking place in Ikeja, Lagos is presided over by Mr. Oyetade Komolafe. While being re-examined by AIB counsel, Mr. Babatunde Irukera, Dialla said the long exposure of the FDR to the inferno melted its magnetic tape and thus rendered it useless for data recovery. Dialla said, “The FDR did not survive the fire. When the protective case was opened, we discovered the magnetic tape had melted. “The FDR can be subjected to up to 1,000°C for 30 minutes. But in this case, it was exposed to the heat for about 24 hours. “The temperature was about 600°C. Even if the temperature is low, a long exposure to heat can destroy the tape.” Also testifying at the proceedings on Monday was the General Manager, Airworthiness Unit of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Kolade Ajiboye. He said the oversight function of the NCAA in regulating the aviation industry does not involve daily inspection of planes at their point of flight. Oyetade adjourned further hearing till Wednesday August 8^th 2012.