On the 16th of April 2010 at 0748hrs, Bristow/PAAN Helicopter with registration 5N-BFU departed Warri Terminal (WT) for Funiwa on a revenue flight, with eight passengers, and at 0847hrs picked up twelve passengers on the return leg to WT.
At 0946hrs, 5N-BFU departed WT for second flight of the day with twelve passengers. Few miles enroute Abiteye, the crew noticed an abnormal torque split on engine #2 with associated oscillation on engine #2 torque needle indicating 10%. This necessitated an air return. The crew returned to WT base for a snag assessment. On landing at WT, passengers disembarked and cargo was off-loaded. While the rotors were still running, Maintenance Engineer II boarded the aircraft for a test flight to assess the torque split and parameter indications. After the test flight, 5N-BFU returned to base at 1034hrs.
