Fuel Contamination: Reps to Investigate, Probe Aviation Operators

The House of Representatives has announced its intention to launch an investigation into the recurring problem of aviation fuel contamination in the country.

The resolution was reached after the House adopted a motion of urgent public importance moved by Tunji Olawuyi (APC-Kwara) at a plenary in Abuja on Thursday.

In his motion, he said the contamination of the main fuel tanks of Boeing 737-300 aircraft belonging to Max Air B737-300 led to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shutdown on July 7 at the Yola Airport.

He said Max Air had reportedly confirmed that it got the contaminated fuel from certain undisclosed aviation refuelling outlets.

This, he said, eventually led to the unfortunate incident and grounding of its 5N-MHM aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)

He noted that NCAA followed the incident via a letter NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363 dated July 9, and suspended parts A3 Aircraft Authorisation and D43 Aircraft Listing of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd.

He said this was with regard to the operations of the Boeing B737 aircraft type in their fleet.

He said NCAA noted several occurrences involving Max Air Boeing B737 aircraft including the loss of the Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft.

He said this occurred between take-off at Yola Airport, Adamawa State and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria on May 7.

He said many flight accidents in history were caused by fuel contamination resulting in abnormal operation of aircraft engines and water as a major contaminant.

He decried the inability of the NCAA and other associated aviation and oil regulatory agencies to address the increasingly sharp practices in the aviation fueling industry.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has commenced an extensive probe into the recent incident involving water contamination in the fuel tanks of certain aircraft.