What happened
On February 23, 2016, during a routine pre-flight inspection at Warsaw Okęcie (EMS Warszawa Okęcie), a maintenance issue was identified on a Piaggio P1．80 Avanti II. While performing the inspection, the crew noticed hydraulic oil droplets near the end of the nose landing gear actuator piston rod.
To assess the severity of the leak, a functional test of the nose landing gear steering system was conducted. During this test, a significant leak of hydraulic fluid was observed emanating from the drain hole located at the end of the actuator piston rod. As a result, the aircraft was immediately grounded to prevent further operational risks.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator, focused on the integrity of the landing gear hydraulic system. Technical personnel at Warsaw Okęcie performed a replacement of the faulty actuator with a serviceable unit that had previously undergone overhaul. Following the replacement, the hydraulic fluid levels were replenished, and the system was tested for leaks. The subsequent functional test of the nose landing gear steering system yielded positive results, confirming the system was leak-free.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was an internal leak within the nose landing gear hydraulic actuator.
- The aircraft was returned to service following the successful replacement of the component and subsequent system verification.