An aircraft engineer has called for the immediate dismissal of anyone found responsible for lapses in the servicing of the Z-9 helicopter that crashed last Wednesday, killing eight people — three military officers and five civilians.
Dr Robert Nesta Otoo, a British Army aircraft engineer, explained that before any aircraft takes off, it undergoes a series of rigorous servicing procedures.
“Before an aircraft takes off, there are people who carry out service work on it,” he said.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Burning Issues, he outlined that after servicing, ground testing must be conducted to ensure every component is functioning properly. Following certification, the aircraft then undergoes air testing before being cleared for flight.
“After all these tests are done and found satisfactory, the aircraft is made ready to fly,” Dr. Otoo added.
He urged authorities to review the service log from the day of the incident to identify those assigned to work on the helicopter before its departure.
“I am calling on authorities to open the service book on the day of the incident to see those who were assigned to work on the plane before take-off, to ascertain which work was not done diligently enough, leading to the disaster that befell the entire nation,” he said.
Dr. Otoo stressed that if any negligence is established, those involved should be dismissed and sanctioned.
He also rejected claims that Ghana’s aircraft are too old, arguing that poor maintenance — not age — is the primary cause of deterioration.
“These machines are built to last longer. They only need servicing to keep them fit for purpose. This is why I’m calling for an investigation, and whoever didn’t do due diligence should be sacked,” he emphasised.
The British Army engineer further appealed for transparency in the ongoing probe. “Investigators should publish the outcome of the aircraft examination,” he added.
Source: Kwame Kulenu
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